Walgreens opened the first drugstore nationwide to meet top environmental requirements for efficiency and design on june 24th. The new store in Mira Mesa, Calif., is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards - a certification only granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). another LEED registered wags is scheduled to open in Chicago, IL this year.
Here are a few unique features you’ll find at the Mira Mesa Walgreens:
♥ SKYLIGHTS
Skylights cut down on electricity used for lighting. Inside, skylights and solar tubes allow the sun to light 75 percent of the store. Natural light conserves natural resources and reduces air pollution.
♥ ENERGY EFFICIENCY
this store is equipped with a "white" roof. The roof reflects the sun’s energy, and doesn’t absorb it. This helps reduce the "heat island" effect. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, heat islands are densely populated areas that are hotter than nearby rural areas. They also affect the summertime peak energy demand in communities, air conditioning costs and air pollution.
♥ WATER QUALITY
This store uses zero gallons of water for landscape maintenance by using native and adapted plant species. This reduces the demand on the limited supply of drinking water. It also improves the existing water quality because native and adapted plant species require little or no fertilizer or pesticides.
♥ LED LIGHTING
LED lighting is used in the coolers, freezers and exterior building signage. LEDs last longer and use less energy than fluorescent lighting. As a result, pollution from energy production is reduced and less waste is sent to the landfill over the lifetime of the project.
my sources:
walgreens.com
foxbusiness.com
