IKEA Reading, the UK’s most sustainable store

IKEA has finally opened in Reading, the store has the grand title of “the most sustainable store in the UK”.

Although store manger, Johanna Heuren adds it is “the most sustainable store in the UK, to date” as IKEA is always pushing to make each of its stores greener than the last.

For now IKEA Reading boasts a host of eco-features, including electric car charging points, rain water harvesting and ground source heating.

IKEA staff will tell you the idea of sustainability is built into the heart of everything the brand does, from the design of its buildings to the creation of its products- for example its water-saving taps.

The brand even favoured the design of its IKEA PS watering can because it is stackable and so can be transported more efficiently.

IKEA Reading also includes roof lights and more windows than you might find in other IKEAs, this means less energy is wasted lighting the cavernous interior of the store and warehouse.

Johanna said: “Roof lights help us reduce electricity. They are amazing, something very special in the IKEA Reading and there are a lot of windows in the store.”

IKEA is also a promoter of LED bulbs. The only bulbs you can buy in store are LED and the whole store is lit by them.

Ground source heating produces less CO2 than traditional systems and can use much less energy to provide the same amount of heat as a gas or oil heating system.

IKEA Reading has its own four-storey car park with 1,000 parking spaces, six are reserved for electric cars which can be recharged free while the drivers pick up a Hemnes coffee table.