The supermarket is managed by COOP Alleanza 3.0, while the retrofitting process was supported by INRES (for study, design and implementation) and the CommONEnergy partners, who suggested and implemented solutions and technologies. In the past couple of years, this neighbourhood experienced a social degradation, which encouraged the city of Modena to define a project requalifying this area, both from a social and functional point of view. The supermarket’s retrofitting was therefore included in the overall neighbourhood requalification. The supermarket is completed with a para-pharmacy of 76 m² and a bar with an ice-cream shop of 67 m², participating to reviving the R-Nord area.

Before the works on the left, and below after renovation

The innovative solutions of CommONEnergy include:

• Integrated solutions for HVAC and refrigeration;
• Artificial lighting in gallery, adjustable in intensity and colour to simulate daylight. The supermarket is equipped with a natural lighting system, using the passage of solar tubes through the rooms of the first floor to the roof;
• Integrated management system (IBEMS), gathering information and feedback on the systems;
• Thermo-reflective (grey) paint applied on a portion of the flat roof to reduce the thermal loads of the building. 
• Energy modelling in dynamic regime, which highlighted the possibility of obtaining results intervening in minimum building envelope measures, thanks to thermal insulation and the use of double-glazing for new window frames;
• Insulation of the structure to summer irradiation and winter heat loss.

Implementing the previously stated technologies and solutions had several objectives and benefits: 

• Reducing energy demand and the operating costs;
• Reducing primary energy demand, thus lowering the GHG emissions and improving the building’s sustainability;
• Creating new jobs, a new class of workers with technical skills and increase of contractors coming from small and medium enterprises;
• Improved comfort within the commercial area.

COOP Alleanza 3.0 contributed to the retrofitting by intervening directly with up to 670 000€ to support the works in public-use areas and with 55 000€ for public works.

62 workers are now employed in the renovated supermarket, where various ranges of products can be found: food, home products, etc., completed with vegan and organic sections. The shop is opened 7 days a week, with a reduced timeframe on Sundays.