Castorama is a DIY home improvement and décor retail chain located throughout Europe, including France, Italy, Poland and Russia. Kingfisher plc, the leading home improvement retail group in Europe and Asia, has owned Castorama since 2002. The company also owns B&Q, the largest home improvement and garden center retailer in the UK and third largest in the world. In anticipation of an update to current building codes, from RT2005 to RT2010, the company embarked on an ambitious 5 year plan to upgrade both interiors and exteriors of 90% of Castorama stores by 2009.

The first new store to be completed is environmentally friendly due to the use of photo-voltaic panels on the roof, ”Canadian wells" using geothermal technology, thick insulation (200mm on the roof), and Nanogel aerogel for smoke extractors. Cabot Aerogel’s French partner Alcaud SA installed the project, using their Euromaxidome; 16mm polycarbonate smoke extractors insulated with Nanogel. Each smoke extractor measures 3x2m, for a total translucent surface of 300m²50 on the 14,000m² total surface of the store. Kingfisher is known for its dedication to sustainable business practices and social responsibility, making the decisions easy when creating the plan for the upgrade, and the inclusion of Euromaxidome with Nanogel no surprise.