Big Y Raises Environmental Bar for New Flagship Store

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Big Y, Springfield, Mass., will open a newly reconstructed 66,000-square-foot flagship store here Thursday that it is calling its “most environmentally friendly unit within the chain, with state-of-the-art energy efficiencies both inside and out,” the chain said yesterday in a statement. The new store, located on the site of its original flagship store, opened in 1959, “houses the most energy-efficient lighting, motors, heating, cooling and refrigeration systems available today,” said Big Y. The new store is located in a shopping center that Big Y renovated, adding additional trees and grassy areas. In addition, the drainage systems are designed to remove sediment and oil from storm water, preventing spills and surface pollution from entering downstream lakes and rivers. Big Y said it expects the store to achieve an Energy Star certificate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after the one-year mandatory waiting period.

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