January 3, 2005—Supermarket retailer Giant Eagle, Inc. recently became the nation’s first grocer to operate a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified supermarket at one of its locations in Northeastern Ohio. LEED, a national green building rating system administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), designates that Giant Eagle has and will continue to meet required standards by incorporating environmentally responsible features and systems into the building.
The 80,000 square foot supermarket, opened this past summer and located in the Brunswick Town Center shopping plaza, is the first supermarket to earn an environmentally-friendly designation. No other supermarket has earned an equivalent award in the world. The LEED designation builds on the company’s commitment to responsible resource use, as it was recognized in February as a 2004 ENERGY STAR Retail Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for adopting smart and efficient energy practices.
When building its Brunswick supermarket, Giant Eagle implemented the following environmentally friendly features:
- The consumption of 30 percent less energy than comparable supermarkets, with more than 50 percent of the location’s electrical energy supplied through wind generation.
- 50 skylights integrated with electrical lighting sensors, which automatically adjust the amount of electric light supplied depending on the light generated by the skylight.
- Air quality sensors to monitor for carbon dioxide and other gases to ensure fresh, clean air throughout the entire store.
- The absence of ozone-depleting refrigerants in the refrigeration and cooling systems.
- Natural filtration of parking lot storm water into the adjacent marshland.
- Water conserving equipment that will save more than 100,000 gallons per year.
- Drought-resistant plants and trees that require no irrigation other than natural rainfall, resulting in a savings of approximately 400,000 gallons of water each year.
- A green housekeeping program that uses environmentally responsible cleaning products.
- A white, reflective roof and increased insulation to allow the building to cool and heat easier.
- The Eagle’s Nest(R) child learning and activity center, for children ages 3-9, features furniture made of particle board using pressed sunflower seeds.
- Cabinetry made of recycled strawboard.
- Gypsum wallboard made of 100 percent recycled materials.
- Adhesives, sealants, paints, carpeting and wood products that are low in volatile organic compounds.
