Retail mammoth Tesco has launched it first Irish 'eco-store' in County Waterford.

The Tranmore store will formally open to the public next week.

Boasting 30,000 sq ft of retail space, the site is expected to use 45% less energy than a supermarket of a similar size.

This could save 420 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum, resulting in a 30% annual reduction.

Government Minister Martin Cullen toured the store.

He said: "I am delighted that Tramore is home to Ireland's first eco store, a store which is also bringing 93 jobs to the community.

"Tesco Ireland has identified innovative measures to lower emissions and should be congratulated for making a substantial effort, with this new building, for adopting sustainable environmental practices."

Minister Cullen added: "Companies like Tesco Ireland who embrace sustainable measures as an integral part of their business plans, not only improve efficiencies and make cost savings, but their efforts are important for the country's green economy and its contribution towards global sustainability."

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Director of Corporate Affairs at Tesco Ireland, Dermot Breen, said: "As a business we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and last year we set ourselves a number of goals including a 50% reduction in carbon use by 2020.

"The programme also includes an investment of €30 million in environmental measures throughout our business," he added.

The new store is the first supermarket in Ireland to be designed to the internationally recognised PassivHaus standard.

This form of design focuses on reducing energy consumption using the very highest levels of insulation throughout the building as well as recycling over 70% of the heat used in the store's ventilation system.

A state-of-the-art tri-generation Combined Heat and Power Unit will heat and provide additional electrical power for the store.

This state-of-the-art gas burning system generates electricity and then uses the waste heat used in the generation process to heat the store. In summer this process will also help provide chilled water.

The 30,000 sq ft structure is supported by a wooden frame with timber harvested from sustainable forests. This feature has saved over 400 tonnes of carbon dioxide when compared to a conventional steel frame for a building of similar size.

Sky lights will increase the amount of natural light entering the store while solar panels will help power the bank of cash registers.

Since announcing its Strategy for the Environment and Carbon Reduction last year, Tesco Ireland has been investing and trialling new technologies in its 111 stores across the country and as a result has developed a more sustainable blueprint for its new buildings.

This includes an extensive energy management programme with Energy Champions appointed locally to all stores.

(PR/JM)