An energy refit of one of its stores has won Scotmid Co-operative a major sustainability award.

The shop in Moredun, Edinburgh has won the Scottish Grocers Sustainable Retailer of the Year award after it cut energy use by almost 60%.

The prize, sponsored by Resource Efficient Scotland, a programme of Zero Waste Scotland, is given to retailers with a well though-out and implemented sustainability programme.

It awarded those showing improved energy efficiency, best practice in minimising packaging and food waste, provision of recycling facilities for customers and support for local sustainability initiatives.

The Moredun store, which relaunched in October 2014 underwent a refit. It now features technologies including LED lighting with sensors to adjust to natural light from outside, recovery of heat from fridges and a building management system.

Scotmid also built a brand new ‘Green Classroom’ – a learning space for the local community and businesses to learn about sustainability.

Stephen Boyle of Resource Efficient Scotland said: “Since the retrofit, the Moredun store has reported a 58% reduction in energy used and as a result, [Scotmid].. is looking at the possibility of similar changes in 40 other stores.

“Retrofitting a store in this way is a bold example of how resource efficiency can be embraced and I hope to see other stores inspired by their example.”