The Project
The new Decathlon store in Parma has achieved Gold level certification, in compliance with LEED Italia NC 2009 standards.
The project was built in an already developed area, which is served by the public transport network. Permeable flooring was chosen for the car parks, in order to allow rainwater run-off into the subsoil. The urban heat island effect resulting from the design is low since the materials used externally comply with the stated solar reflectance index limits. Water resources are safeguarded through the adoption of water-saving bathroom furniture and low-flow taps, and a rainwater reuse system is also featured.
Energy use is kept low by the electric heat pump air conditioning system, the high efficiency electronic fans, and by the modulation of the air flow rate based on CO2 build-up in the building. A photovoltaic plant covers over 9% of the annual power demand, while the electricity supply agreement guarantees that all power purchased is produced from renewable energy sources.
The materials employed all feature a certain percentage of recycled content and are extracted and processed locally (within the region), thereby reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, the construction waste was disposed of via recovery and recycling centres.
The quality of the indoor environment is guaranteed by a high air exchange rate and the use of VOC- and formaldehyde-free materials for interior finishes.