John Brodie from VIM Sustainability Pty Ltd., our Australian distributor, popped over to the UK to spend time with the Monodraught sales and installation teams.

As VIM supplies the full range of Monodraught products, John felt he should gain more experience, learning from the Monodraught staff's expertise that has been built up over a number of years. John had a week intensive training with various department heads within Head Office and also spent time on-site obtaining valuable hands-on experience.

Monodraught have installed five Windcatcher terminals at the new Sainsburys Store at Gloucester Quays.  These systems are specifically designed to complement the intentions of the exciting new developments at Gloucester Quays. 

In addition to the five Windcatcher terminals, 146 N° 750mm diameter SunPipes have also been installed.  As well as the striking feature provided at roof level by the Windcatchers, the SunPipes provide the natural daylight requirements and enable Sainsburys to make cost savings in energy use and also reduce their carbon footprint.

"Sainsbury’s director of store development David Sheehan says “What we wanted to do was to try and do what we did at Dartmouth [another eco-store that opened last year where Monodraught supplied their Sunpipe systems] and to make natural light our standard.”

Sheehan is at pains to point out the large areas of glazing in the eaves as well as the light tubes set into the roof. The sun does indeed emerge at this point and the long lines of lights suspended above the aisles suddenly go off. There is no noticeable difference in terms of lighting levels and Sheehan says that the energy-saving system, in conjunction with the light tubes on the roof, will save about £20,000 a year.

It is worth noting the sheer number of light tubes. The first UK retailer to use these prismatic devices, which focus and intensify natural daylight, was Marks & Spencer at its Bournemouth store, which opened in late 2007. In that shop they are used to light some of the staff areas, but in Gloucester, Sainsbury’s has opted to deploy them en masse, to brighten the selling floor." - RETAIL WEEK 3/7/09