Reducing the intensity of light in supermarkets before customers arrive is one of the recommendations made by the Flad trade group to help reduce energy consumption in Luxembourg. Photo: Nader Ghavami/Maison Moderne

Reducing the intensity of light in supermarkets before customers arrive is one of the recommendations made by the Flad trade group to help reduce energy consumption in Luxembourg. Photo: Nader Ghavami/Maison Moderne

With its energy conservation plan unveiled on Monday 21 November, the supermarket industry intends to contribute to the collective effort to reduce energy consumption by 15%. Seven recommendations have been formulated.

A maximum of 20°C indoors and the extinction of outdoor illuminated signs between 10pm and 6am: these are two recommendations made by Flad (Fédération luxembourgeoise de l'alimentation et de la distribution, the Luxembourg grocery and food distribution federation) to its members in order to contribute to the government's objectives of .

The trade organisation has developed a guide to good energy practice to raise awareness. This is included in the list of seven recommendations published on Monday.

Seven recommendations, nothing binding

To contribute to the effort, food retailers are asked to:

- Turn off outdoor illuminated signs between 10pm and 6am

- Limit outdoor lighting to the necessary minimum and in compliance with safety regulations

- Systematically lower the light intensity before the arrival of customers and occasionally reduce the lighting of sales areas

- Adapt lighting to the occupation (or non-occupation) of the premises and switch off the lighting in unoccupied premises

- Do not heat areas that are not regularly used by customers or employees

- Lower the room temperature to a maximum of 20°C in winter

- Raise awareness among employees through good practice guides on energy saving

The text is not binding: it is an invitation to join an energy saving plan for the food retail sector, says Flad. It has 23 members, mainly large retailers, but also wholesalers, online retailers and convenience stores.

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In fact, some shops have already taken specific measures to save energy. These are therefore added to the Flad list. The Knauf shopping centres in Pommerloch and Schmiede as well as those operated by Nhood in Cloche d’Or and Kirchberg are also joining the initiative.

“It is important to note that the recommendations and the guide will only be applied as far as possible and in full compliance with safety and hygiene rules,” the organisation said.

The organisation represents 95% of the food retail industry and more than 10,000 employees. It is also a member of the Luxembourg Retail Federation, which was .

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.

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