Giant Eagle received LEED gold-certification for its 75,000 square-foot store in northeast Columbus, Ohio. The company says its the first-ever LEED gold-certification in the “new construction” category for a supermarket.
The store was designed to use 20 percent less energy compared with conventional supermarkets and is powered completely by green energy sources. Drought-tolerant vegetation that requires no irrigation has also been planted in the store's parking lot.
Other features includes 82 skylights, air quality sensors to monitor for CO2 and the use of adhesives, sealants, paints, carpeting and wood products that are low in volatile organic compounds.
Supermarkets across the country are shifting to greener buildings. Patriot Ledger reported that the green commercial architecture trend could grow from $3 billion in 2006 to $27 billion by 2010.
