Environmental Leader

Wal-Mart has unveiled what it says is its most energy efficient U.S. store in Las Vegas – the HE.5 prototype – that will use up to 45 percent less energy than the baseline supercenter. The HE.5 begins a new series of prototypes designed for specific climates. The store follows Wal-Mart’s HE.1 and HE.2 prototypes.

The HE.5 store features advancements in heating, cooling, refrigeration and lighting, according to the company. Specifically, the store takes the integrated water-source format system that Wal-Mart piloted in other HE stores and adapts it to the local climate by adding evaporative cooling and radiant flooring technologies. The new HE.5 system reduces the temperature of water by pumping it through roof-mounted cooling towers then runs the cold water underneath the retail floor to cool the shopping area.

“We believe this is the most efficient cooling system implemented in a major retail facility,” says Richard Bourne, Western Cooling Efficiency Center associate director.

Skylights will provide most of the interior lighting during the day and will be supplemented by fluorescent lights that either dim or turn off when the sun is shining, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Hot exhaust air from refrigerated food displays will be used to heat the store during winter and to heat water for the store year-round.

The refrigerated food displays use LED lights that come on when someone walks by.