Supermarket Operator Invests In Solar Technology To Improve Sustainability

The UK's second largest supermarket operator, Sainsbury's has recently unveiled a new sustainability plan that includes investing in solar and other eco technologies to the tune of one billion pounds.

The supermarket giant sees solar energy as a major part of its efforts to make its retail properties more sustainable.

With over a thousand large supermarkets and smaller convenience stores, the company rightly sees its sheer amount of rooftop space available for solar panels as a possible pillar of its future operations. The supermarket chain's plan is called the 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan and the eco drive has been hailed as one of the most ambitious in the industry, and has even won backing from the government.

Sainsbury's pledge to use solar is part of 20 new sustainability targets that the retailer wants to achieve in the next decade. The massive number of roof space available to the company, particularly at its 601 large supermarkets, means that harnessing solar energy makes sense as a way to cut energy costs, reduce the company's carbon footprint, and use more green fuels. As proof of the supermarket giant's commitment to its pledge, the company has already installed solar panels and battery storage facilities at over 200 of its supermarket sites.

A Commitment to Sustainability and Energy Cost Savings

Sainsbury's investment into solar technology is part of a sustainability drive by the company as it looks to secure its future as one of Britain's biggest grocery retailers. In addition to harnessing solar energy, the company will also look into other sustainable and energy efficient technologies such as ground-source heat pumps.

Sainsbury's has not revealed any project specifics although the company made it clear that it looked at each site on a case by case basis. As such, the retailer has installed solar panels and power storage facilities across a range of its buildings alongside other renewable energy sources.

Sainsbury's commitment to renewable and eco-friendly power is an ambitious plan that should be lauded as the push to reduce the world's carbon footprint gathers pace. In addition to being better for the environment, the company stands to cut a huge part of its operational costs as it reduces its energy bill and adopts renewable sources such as solar. In fact, the company's eco-drive is part of a wider trend that is being adopted by everyone from individuals to large multi-national corporations as awareness of the damages caused by human activity on the earth are better understood.

In addition to Sainsbury's, many other businesses and industries have already started turning their attention to eco technology as well. As these technologies become more affordable and widespread, with green energy suppliers and energy saving devices like solar window films quickly picking up traction in the UK.

Many large companies and corporations are investing massively in renewable energy sources not only because they are kinder to our environment, but also because there are potential cost savings that can be made, not to mention the good PR of being a Green company. Therefore, the push towards renewable and sustainable energy sources being led by large companies such as Sainsbury's is a good thing for our environment and the sustainability of future generations.