January 19, 2007—Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is opening in Kansas City, Mo. the first in a series of high-efficiency stores that will use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter.
In addition to the cutting-edge technologies already found in Wal-Mart stores, the new high-efficiency stores will integrate industry-leading heating, cooling and refrigeration systems to conserve energy, says the company. High-efficiency stores will help the retailer move one step closer to achieving its environmental goals, which include using less energy and producing less waste, according to the company.
In 2005, Wal-Mart opened two experimental stores in McKinney, Texas, and Aurora, Colo., to test several environmentally friendly technologies, ranging from wind power to pervious pavement, from waterless urinals to light-emitting diodes. The aim was to experiment with innovative technologies, with the intention that they could some day be incorporated into a store prototype.
The Kansas City store is the first store to bring some of these experiments from the preliminary testing phase to a practical trial phase. To achieve the 20 percent energy reduction at the new Kansas City high-efficiency store, the company will target two main energy-consuming units: the heating and air conditioning system (HVAC), and the refrigeration system.
Wal-Mart plans to open the next high-efficiency store in Rockton, Ill., this spring.
For more information, visit the Wal-Mart Web site.
