At Aupark economic and environmental aims go hand in hand as the shopping centre is adding solar panels to improve its sustainable management – in addition to sorting, low-energy lighting and water conservation.
Bratislava Aupark is moving towards sustainability as solar panels have been added to the roof. Through all-day contact with solar radiation, the roof provides ideal conditions for producing solar electricity. A total of 1,272 panels with an installed capacity of almost 500 kWp will provide Aupark with an estimated annual electricity production of 550 MWh – officerentinfo.sk reports.
Solar panels to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources
“High energy prices significantly reduce the return on investment in photovoltaic installations. However, in addition to the economic side, the impact on the environment and the continuous reduction of dependence on non-renewable energy sources are also important to us. At 550 MWh, this is the equivalent of the consumption of approximately one hundred thousand cubic meters of natural gas, 250 tons of CO2 and hundreds of kilograms of other emissions that would be generated annually in the production of electricity from this commodity,” – says Lukáš Palaščák from WOOD & Company, which Aupark co-owns with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
Strategy of sustainability
In the case of Aupark, which has a leasable area of 60,000 sqm and 231 business units, this is another step in the strategy of sustainable operation. The centre has held the BREEAM In-Use certificate at the Double Excellent level since 2014. The BREEAM certificate, first awarded in 1990 in the United Kingdom, is currently considered one of the most prestigious buildings sustainability assessment systems.
At Aupark, its high rating reflects the systematic application of several environmental measures, such as the use of sanitary facilities with low or no water consumption, the installation of low-energy LED lighting and the purchase of electricity with 100% renewable production or cooperation with sustainable fashion brands.
Photo: hbreavis.com, reality.trend.sk
