Marks And Spencer Installs Air Curtains In Eco Friendly Branch

The Marks & Spencer store on Northumberland Street in Newcastle recently installed high velocity air curtains as part of its eco-friendly retrofit, the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Magazine reports. The branch has been hailed as one of the most environmentally-friendly stores in the North East region, following a major revamp which forms part of the retailer's wider plans to be the most sustainable retailer in the world.

The over-door air curtains were put in place to act as a divider between the internal and external environments, ensuring that the Food Hall area was kept warm and comfortable for shoppers.

In addition to this, a heat pump was fitted to reuse the heat produced by the refrigeration system. This means that heat generated by the pump is circulated to the Food Hall to improve conditions for customers, while also helping to save energy. Other energy-saving features to be fitted include the installation of LED fridge lighting into all of the store's refrigeration display units, and intelligent door sensors in the entryways.

In fact, the site is one of the first to test this new technology, which is able to sense the difference between somebody walking past the door and somebody who is actually going to enter.

One of the most eye-catching features is the green living wall, designed to insulate the building whilst also providing an aesthetically-pleasing advert for biodiversity. Commenting on the news was Mike Barry, director of M&S' Plan A initiative to become the most environmentally-friendly retailer in the world. He stated that with the Newcastle store being one of their most important stores, "the finished green wall and store's eco energy refit is hugely exciting for everyone at M&S."

"We hope the completion of this project will boost Northumberland Street, and provide our customers with an improved shopping experience," he added.