Makro is top-of-the-mind for most shoppers seeking value, quality and affordable products.
Customers demand the latest products on the market and the new Makro in Gqeberha in Cape Road, Parsons Vlei, will also deliver. Innovation forms the foundation of everything Makro does and is a core company value. This is what incited their green revolution which started many years ago, when “green” building was still just a dream for many.
Take, for instance, Makro Cape Gate in Okavango, Cape Town, which was specifically designed to blend in with its environment. The designers’ goal was to incorporate aesthetic features to reflect the store’s urban surroundings. “To reduce our carbon footprint, natural light was paramount, and this was specified during the design phase,” explains Brett Cummings from Makro SA.
“It results in less electricity usage, and by installing motion sensors in offices and storage rooms, we further reduce consumption.”
Green practices – simple yet effective
A challenge most organisations battle with, is going green while staying within lean budgets. Makro’s approach has not only overcome this hurdle, but they have taken their innovation to a greater level by finding creative solutions to their already abundant ideas.
To minimise on-site water consumption, the new Makro Gqeberha store makes use of a variety of water saving interventions including rainwater and condensate harvesting, remotely metered low flow taps and fixtures and dual flush toilets.
For this specific building, the development team sourced building materials from around the area to reduce the need for transport, and a horticultural expert was consulted to ensure that plants sourced were water-wise and eco-friendly. To reduce electricity usage, the store makes use of daylight harvesting to harness natural light combined with highly efficient LED sales floor lights; together these two systems provide optimal in-store lighting, with minimal energy usage.
Consistent with all new Makro stores, the Gqeberha store also uses a thermal storage system to reduce electricity requirements associated with maintaining a comfortable shopping environment. These thermal chillers are coupled with a highly efficient, natural gas refrigeration plant, which uses carbon dioxide instead of ozone-depleting refrigeration gases.
Carbon dioxide refrigerant gases are 100% natural, with a global warming potential (GWP) rating of 1 (best in class).
Beyond making the store as energy efficient as possible and to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, a 418kW peak solar power plant has been incorporated into the design of the store.
This solar plant is expected to reduce the store’s daytime grid electricity consumption by approximately 70% while reducing overall grid consumption by between 20-25%.
“We believe our new Gqeberha store combines cutting edge customer experience and innovative building design in way that reduces costs, improves sustainability and enhances the Makro shopping experience.”
