Leading Northern Ireland commercial electrical contractor Premier Electrics has just completed work on a major contract for a pioneering prototype ‘green store’ being trialled by Marks & Spencer in Sheffield.

The Bellaghy-based company was tasked with the electrical fit out of a wide range of energy reducing initiatives in the cutting edge store at Ecclesall Road which Marks & Spencer view as the future in retail design.

A specialist team from Premier installed a complete LED lighting system designed to reduce energy consumption, rain water harvesting, fridge case waste heating systems and solar panel installations to help feed back into the national electricity grid.

It is the first of a planned number of ‘Sustainable Learning Stores’ to be built by the retailer which are designed to build up M&S’s knowledge of sustainable construction.

The company plans to roll out a programme of in-store improvements that will cut carbon emissions, make stores more energy efficient and reduce electricity bills.

Eco-friendly features include wood certified to have come from renewable resources, bricks recovered from a former mill and polished concrete floors which need no additional covering.

Rainwater supplies the toilets and the store’s green ‘living wall,’ reducing water costs by up to 40 per cent compared with a similar sized store built using traditional methods and features.

Heat produced by the store’s refrigeration units will be used to keep the building warm, reducing CO2 emissions by 23 per cent and energy efficient LED lighting has been augmented by “sun pipes,” bringing natural light to the interior of the store.

In addition to the ‘living wall,’ the store has a sedum roof to insulate the building, filter pollution and create wildlife habitats. Bird boxes will be mounted on the perimeter of the site and there will be charging points for electric cars in the car parks as well as screens in the store, giving customers real time local transport information.

Even trolley and cycle shelters in the car park have been made from sustainable wood and covered with sedum roofs.

Sustainability is a specialised area for local firm Premier Electrics which has an established working relationship with Marks & Spencer.

Company Manager Tony Shivers said: “This is the latest in a number of contracts we have completed for Marks & Spencer stores, on this occasion working closely alongside Wates Retail, the main contractor for the project.

“Due to the bespoke technology of this store, a very flexible team was required, led by Project Manager, Liam Martin, with experts capable of solving problems as they arose but still able to complete the project to the standard expected and within the tight 10-week programme.

Established in 1993, Premier Electrics Ltd. is a specialist electrical contractor employing 150 people with specific expertise across the retail, leisure, industrial and commercial sectors.

Premier provides a comprehensive range of electrical installation and maintenance services to a formidable array of high-end clients across all of Britain, Ireland and Europe.

That extensive list includes such retail giants as M&S, Primark, Debenhams, ASDA, Tesco, Argos, Monsoon, Brown Thomas and the Virgin Group.