Costa has opened what it claims is the first “zero energy” coffee shop building in the UK.

Dubbed the ‘Eco Pod’, the store at Wrekin Retail Park in Telford boasts a number of energy efficient and sustainable technologies.

The test bed includes a “super-insulated” façade – helping keep more heat during the winter and cool it during the summer – solar panels, sustainable timber frame and an under-floor heating system and passive ventilation, which minimises the energy needed to heat and cool the building.

Costa claims the technologies helps the coffee shop meet zero energy standards and provides power for espresso machines, panini grills and dishwashers.

Jim Slater, Managing Director of Costa UK and Ireland said: “This is an exciting first for coffee shop and retail design here in the UK.

“We wanted to explore new ways to serve quality coffee to our customers while managing our environmental footprint as responsibly as we can.”

It took retail property specialist Hammerson 13 weeks to build the coffee shop.