Walgreens plans to open a net zero energy retail store in Evanston, Illinois.
Walgreens plans to open a net zero energy retail store in Evanston, Illinois. The company will use green technologies to provide the facility’s energy needs, the company said.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will be installed in the building among a number of other energy saving fixtures to help the Evanston store produce more energy than it consumes, Walgreens announced. The company believes it will be the nation’s first net zero energy retail store.
“We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and leading the retail industry in use of green technology,” said Thomas Connolly, Walgreens vice president of facilities development. “We are investing in developing a net-zero store so we can learn the best way to bring these features to our other stores. Because we operate 8,000 stores, we believe our pursuit of green technology can have a significant positive impact on the nation’s environment.”
The energy saving plans for the store will help to reduce its electricity usage by more than 40 percent with the help of the LED lighting. Engineers working with the company on the store’s development estimate the store will use 200,000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity and generate 256,000 kilowatt hours per year.
More than 5,000 Walgreens stores across the country are already using LED cooler and freezer lighting, the company said.
According to Reuters, Walgreens hopes to reduce energy usage by 20 percent in all of its more than 8,000 stores by 2020.
The project in Evanston will be part of the company’s People Using Resources Efficiently (PURE) Walgreens sustainability program. The company said the goal of the project is to be a leader in resource conservation, carbon emissions reduction and waste diversion.
Businesses considering a lighting installation to help with energy use reduction should contact the lighting specialists at Lumenistics for a more detailed consultation and to discuss the best options for your energy reduction goals.