The Co-op Group’s online subsidiary Co-operatives E Store is to replace its website servers with a much greener hosted infrastructure provided by Maginus.

The new hardware will be piloted in September by the retailer which trades as The Co-operative Electrical.

The retailer already uses Maginus’ ERP and ecommerce systems, and giving control of the hardware they run on to its supplier will allow Co-operatives E Store to focus on the development of its fast-growing operation.

The move will also fit with The Co-operative Group’s wider ethical values. Co-operatives E Store head of operations Diane Porter told Retail Week that the Group has committed to reducing its energy consumption by 25% between 2006 and 2012. Maginus’ equipment is much more energy efficient than the hardware it has been using, and the deal will allow it to take advantage of any further green technical progress as the servers will be updated every two years.

The new platform will be between 40% to 50% more energy efficient, and will be more cost effective, as the retailer only has to pay for extra capacity as it needs it.