Food Lion Earns LEED Silver for Two Fayetteville, N.C. Stores

Two Food Lion stores in Fayetteville, N.C. earned LEED Silver certification for their environmentally friendly construction and energy-efficient services, including an on-site recycling center, an educational kiosk and preferred parking for carpool vehicles.

“At Food Lion, we are committed to protecting the environment and reducing energy consumption through green building construction,” said Kyle Mitchell, VP of store development for Delhaize America South. “We look to identify other opportunities to build LEED stores and further reduce our energy consumption.”

Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), LEED is a program for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. By using less energy and water, certified LEED buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community, according to the Council.

The Food Lion located at Bingham Station was LEED Silver certified June 29, and the store in Rockfish Commons was Silver certified Aug. 30. Last year, the company opened its first LEED certified grocery store in Columbia, S.C., and the Columbia store has since also received the silver level of certification.

The two Food Lion LEED stores in North Carolina feature a number of environmentally-friendly features, including:

• LED lighting in the frozen food cases
• Bike racks and preferred parking for carpool vehicles
• Low-flow and sensor-activated water fixtures in restrooms
• Native plant species that eliminate irrigation requirements
• Enhanced air quality for associates and customers by using low-toxicity materials and implementing proactive management plans throughout construction to ensure optimal indoor air quality
• Environmental education kiosks
• A significant amount of building materials manufactured within 500 miles of each location to boost local economies and reduce energy expended on transportation
• Waste management plans to divert construction waste from landfills through recycling
• In-store customer and associate recycling programs

For a decade, Food Lion has been dedicated to numerous sustainability initiatives, such as energy conservation and reducing carbon dioxide emissions throughout its 11-state footprint, and has reduced its energy consumption by more than 27 percent since 2000 or 2.5 trillion BTUs, according to the retailer. Food Lion is also involved in a number of environmentally-friendly initiatives, including recycling significant amounts of paper and plastic every year and encouraging customers to use reusable bags.

Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion is a subsidiary of Delhaize America, and operates more than 1,100 supermarkets.