Supermarkets are a cornerstone of modern society, and in Sønderborg Municipality they contribute far beyond the products on the shelves.
81 %
53 %
80 %
Shaping tomorrow’s supermarkets
Around 30 supermarkets serve the local communities across the Sønderborg area.
12 of these are part of Brugsen for Als & Sundeved (BALS) – a consumer cooperative where customers are co-owners and share in the profits.
These 12 BALS stores are taking bold steps to reduce their climate footprint.
Since 2012, CO₂ emissions have been reduced by 81 % through initiatives such as reusing excess heat, replacing gas with district heating, and implementing energy-saving measures.
Ongoing innovation in partnership with local engineering giant Danfoss helps them push their energy efficiency even further.
What drove the results?
Reducing energy while testing new solutions
Since 2015, BALS supermarkets have worked consistently to reduce their energy consumption. Initially, the focus was on straightforward upgrades — such as switching to LED lighting and adopting CO₂-based cooling systems.
But improving energy efficiency is a never-ending task. The supermarkets run targeted energy efficiency programs, continuously monitoring and adjusting their consumption based on new insights and practices. For example, they discovered that even how meat is placed in cooling displays affects the energy needed to keep it cool.
In 2023, a major step was taken to advance this work. In collaboration with local engineering giant Danfoss, BALS built one of the most energy-efficient supermarkets in the world. 250 m² of the store has been designed as a training and test facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology to trial and monitor solutions before implementing them across all stores.
Real-time data helps store managers respond quickly to cooling system issues – reducing energy waste and preventing food waste.
Cooling keeps the neighborhood warm
If you have ever held your hand behind your fridge, you have probably noticed that it feels warm. This is heat generated by the cooling process. In most supermarkets, this valuable energy simply vanishes into the air.
But not in the BALS supermarkets. Each one is equipped with a heat recovery unit that captures excess heat from the cooling displays and freezers. This heat is reused to warm the store, the offices, and even the tap water.
By reusing the excess heat, they cover up to 80 % of their own heating needs — cutting their energy bills in half.
Most of the supermarkets are also connected to the local district heating network. So, when they produce more heat than they need, the surplus is fed into the grid and used to heat nearby homes and businesses.
Solar panels lower external risks
Supermarkets account for around 3 % of total electricity consumption in industrialized countries, making them significant energy users with a key role to play in the green transition.
To reduce their dependence on the grid, several BALS supermarkets have already installed solar panels on their rooftops – generating green power directly on-site. More installations are on the way, and the next step is battery storage, allowing stores to save excess energy and use it when demand is highest.
The energy crisis in 2022 highlighted a crucial point: producing your own renewable energy doesn’t just help the climate — it also increases resilience. By generating and managing their own energy, the supermarkets are better prepared for global fluctuations in energy prices.