LIDL achieves the first BREEAM outstanding building in Romania

The challenge was to obtain the highest scored BREEAM certified building in Romania and to demonstrate that significant reducing environmental impacts is possible. The BREEAM certification scheme helped the project team to manage the environmental impact with a balanced, multi-disciplinary approach.

BREEAM Outstanding (99.1%) – BREEAM Awards 2020 Winner
Version BREEAM International New Construction 2013 – Post Construction

Architect: Square BAU
Building Services: General Instal Comp
Constructor: Skanska Construction Romania
Assessor Company: Vest Klima Instal
Consultancy: NOA Project

About the Building

The building is located in the Aviatiei neighbourhood, in the northern area of Bucharest. The site was previously occupied by a 70 year old bread factory. LIDL Romania aimed to achieve the highest BREEAM rating in Romania and within the LIDL‘s portfolio worldwide. The retail store has an area of 2646sqm and was designed to become a landmark in terms of sustainability.

The following features were implemented;

  • Indoor Air Quality was addressed in the project by using products (paints, adhesives, materials) with ultra-low or no VOC content. To reduce VOC release within the building the sprinkler pipes were painted by main contractor outside the construction site. CO2 sensors are installed to insure a healthy environment.
  • Energy efficiency is addressed by incorporating 1200sqm of PV panels on the building roof. The PV system cover more than 50% of the annual overall building consumption (industrial refrigeration included). R290 Hybrid heat pump are installed to cover HVAC demands. High COPs are achieved by using heat rejected from the industrial refrigeration and IT room chiller.
    High performance heat recovery installed in AHUs and CO2 sensors ensure energy efficiency of the ventilation system.
  • The BMS monitor consumptions and transmit data to a 24h monitored platform. Any abnormal activity is signalled, and facility management team is appointed to remediate defect. A ticket system is implemented that allow the building occupier to highlight any abnormal functionality.
  • Sustainable transport. Five EV car chargers are implemented onsite with free charging for public use available onsite to reduce the transport impact for visitors. Cycle racks with video surveillance are placed near the building entrance.
    Dedicated parking spaces for disabled persons and mother with child are near the entrance.
  • Water consumption reduced by 73.81% using low water fixtures and rainwater reuse onsite.
  • 100% FSC/PEFC certified timber was used during the construction stage. Timber suppliers certified themselves for this project to complete the chain-of-custody.
  • Construction Waste diverted from landfill reached 84% by implementing onsite recycling procedures.
  • Impact of refrigerants was minimized by using only R290. The industrial refrigeration, heat pumps and IT chiller are using R290 refrigerant with a GWP<3. The heat pumps with R290 are implemented for the first time in Romania.
  • Landscape. The existing green areas were preserved, and the area was increased during the development by 55.84% from 2006sqm to 3126sqm.

Why did the building undergo BREEAM certification?

BREEAM certification scheme was used as a benchmark of sustainability being recognized at global scale. LIDL is also having other sites certified and LIDL Romania intended to reach the highest rate of all LIDL’s portfolio and the first BREEEAM Outstanding in Romania. The certification scheme helped achieve several goals in terms of achieving a global sustainability approach and a checklist to follow during the lifecycle of the project.

Targeting BREEAM Outstanding for the first time in Romania it was very challenging, and all credits were addressed with 100% involvement. It required a lot of work and involvement from all members of the project team (client, architect, civil and MEP engineers and external consultants).

The project performed well at MAN, WAT and MAT where reached 100% of the available credits. For HEA, ENE, LE and POL were achieved over 88% of the available credits. Several credits were lost for WST and TRA issues due to local legislation interdiction to use recycled aggregates within concrete and the limited number of public transport nodes that are available near site without the possibility to supplement them even if the project team tried to negotiate with the public transport company.

  • For MAT and HEA issues: Since the concept design the client allocated resources to find suppliers for required materials that comply to BREEAM requirements in terms of manufacturing certificates and VOC and formaldehyde content to achieve all achievable credits. 3rd party laboratory for VOC and formaldehyde tests were identified in Hungary because there is no accredited lab for formaldehyde testing in Romania.
  • For construction site management issues: Since the tendering stage requirements were formulated in the tendering documentation. All credits for MAN02 and MAN03 were imposed for the main contractor. Based on their experience and professionalism Skanska Construction Romania managed to cover with success all site related issues. The level 2 IR thermography test was made by a level 3 assessor.  All requirements in checklist A1 were implemented and monitored overtime.
  •  For ENE01 the client agreed to implement for the first time in Romania PV panels on the roof (1200sqm of PV panels). The first time in Romania a R290 hybrid heat pump was installed. For low consumption and high thermal comfort of the occupants a underfloor heating system was installed.
  •  For WAT issues: low water fixtures were selected and a rainwater tank for reusing water within the building was implemented reducing the potable water usage with more than 73%.
  • For WST issues: The main contractor managed to reach over 80% diversion from landfill by implementing sorting and recycling procedures onsite. The most important changes in the project were taken based on optimisation and the questionnaire response provided by the retail store’s employers collected anonymously. The changes were as follows:
    • Food serving room and relaxing space (implemented at first floor)
    • Showers (first time implemented in Romania) and cycle racks;
    • Glare reduction system controlled by BMS based on daylight intensity sensor.

Green Strategy

The challenge was to obtain the highest scored BREEAM certified building in Romania and to demonstrate that significant reducing environmental impacts is possible. The BREEAM certification scheme helped the project team to manage the environmental impact with a balanced, multi-disciplinary approach.

For the first time the LIDL project team implemented;

  •  PV panels on the roof,
  • Implemented rainwater tank for reuse within the building,
  • Implemented hybrid R290 heat pump
  • Implemented timber beams.

Benefits of Assessing to BREEAM

This project is a lesson learned for us and we are going to implement the findings in our future projects because the running costs are lower and the feedbacks received from the visitors, employs and facility management team are positive. BREEAM certification provides the most transparent sustainability benchmark available for any developer -Grigore Priguza, Project Manager at LIDL Romania

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