supermarket
Green Building Design for Supermarkets lagging
10/18/2007
The US Green Building Council, an 11,000 member nonprofit, developed its Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Ratings System in 2000 to provide a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. So far over 6000 buildings have been LEED certified since the standard was published. But only 1.5% of those buildings have been shopping centers.
One store, Hannaford Brothers Co in Augusta, Maine is an exception, not only meeting standards but exceeding them with a passion, with such measures as growing plants on the roof to control storm water and add insulation, making it the USGBC's first "platinum certified" store.
The 49,000 square foot 100% green grocer is exemplary for the state of Maine and for the industry as a whole. There is no reason that retailers should be the last in line when it comes to green building. It is in the marketplace that health consciousness is paramount.
A more holistic environmental consciousness is being promoted to consumers through such chains as Publix Greenwise Markets and Wholefoods Markets, moving the question beyond dietary health. Publix chains feature Greenwise sections, including shelves full of environmental books from Green Encyclopedias and books on global warming in addition to cook books that help sell higher priced organic foods and promote health. Here are a few titles ...
- The Hundred Yeat Lie: How to Protect Yourself from the Chemicals that are Destroying your Health
- A Green History of the World, bky Clive Powting
- Green This!
- The Green Book
- Green Living
- The Hip Chick's guid to Macrobiotics
The challenge will be twofold. Green building is next in order, but no small initial expense to retailers. Planning is essential. Green eating, by comparison is a cynch, but budget shoppers are passing it by. To get green reputations retailers will think of ways to promote health on a budget. But green building shouldn't be out of the question.
"Up-front costs are up 2% from standard building costs, and ROI is seen in about five years" USGBC's Maury Zimring estimates.
What's more, USGBC has lowered standards for retailers recently and made LEED certification easier. The only required criteria are the prevention of construction pollution and erosion control.
Retailers and retail developers can select from the New Construction Pilot's 71 "credits" available. This gives retailers the ability to choose which credits make sense for their particular situation.
In order to achieve standard certification, 26-32 credits must be adopted, for silver certification, 33-38 credits must be adopted, for gold certification, 39-51 credits must be adopted and for platinum certification, 52-69 credits must be adopted.
LEED uses six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. The program doesn't require a certain amount of credits be met in each category.
James Carvin, Founding Editor
Contact James at editor @ supermarketgreennews.com