In 2007, when Hannaford Bros. in Scarborough, Maine, announced plans to build the world's first Platinum-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) supermarket in Augusta, Maine, the retailer became an instant icon for the green movement.
Platinum certification, the highest available qualification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, requires retailers to commit to designing environmentally responsible features and systems into the building, including a number of energy-saving and environmentally friendly sustainable elements.
Among the components going into the 49,000-square-foot facility are solar photovoltaic panels, a green roof, geothermal heating and cooling, high efficiency refrigeration, energy-efficient lighting and an advanced recycling system, among others.
The store will act as a research laboratory of sorts for the chain, said Ronald Hodge, Hannaford's president and chief executive officer. The site will be used to test new innovations that decrease water consumption, energy usage and waste. Improving air quality, stormwater management practices and using sustainable materials will also be a center of focus there.
“The net effect of this project will be reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste, as well as the increased landscaping and an improved indoor environment for both store associates and customers,” Hodge said.
While green technology is featured throughout, the new unit will be in every other way a full-service Hannaford supermarket, with a pharmacy, a full-service butcher shop, an expanded produce section and a seafood department.
