Loblaw Cos. Rolls Out First Green Flagship Superstore in Ontario
Loblaw Cos., Ltd.'s new eco-friendly Loblaw Superstore in Scarborough, Ont. is the grocer's second-ever environmental flagship store, and its first in Ontario. The company has described the May 7 location opening as "a continuation of [its] long-term commitment towards environmentally responsible green retailing."
Additionally, at 120,000 square feet, the Scarborough location is the largest food retail store to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System) certified in Canada, as well as a prototype for future Loblaws stores across the country. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
In constructing the new store, the grocer built on the success and learnings of its first environmental flagship store, which opened in Repentigny, Que. in April 2004.
"Undertaking the LEED accreditation process for the store has resulted in many new, environmentally friendly design approaches that we will also incorporate in future stores," noted Loblaw Cos. v.p. Mark Schembri.
"Loblaw is changing the face of Canadian grocery retail with their Scarborough Superstore," added Peter Love, Ontario's chief energy conservation Officer, who yesterday presented the company with a Certificate of Recognition for its energy management and conservation efforts. "I hope the energy efficiency initiatives incorporated in the heating, cooling, and lighting systems will inspire other retailers to make similar changes. This will reduce the amount of wasted energy, limit our collective greenhouse gas production, and ultimately grow businesses' bottom line."
To remove the heat from chilled and frozen display fixtures, traditional supermarkets employ a considerable amount of refrigerant gas. When these refrigerants leak, they cause greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, the Scarborough Superstore, using alternate design approaches, has lowered this refrigerant charge by 85 percent. The store is the first low temperature secondary CO2 system in Canada, and the largest in North America. This system will cause an estimated reduction to the store's carbon footprint of 15 percent.
To lower the energy associated with store heating, the store's retail sales area will be entirely heated in the winter with recycled heat that is rejected from the refrigeration system, resulting in a further reduction of the store's carbon footprint by 7 percent.
Among the other green features of the store are:
--Motion-activated LED lighting in the freezer cases to cut energy usage by an estimated 50 percent.
--An electricity demand response system that lowers the store's electricity consumption, based on the demand on the provincial grid.
--Multiple waste diversion streams to meet Loblaw's 70 percent waste diverted from landfill target: One diversion involves collecting grease from cooking chickens in the stores and converting it to biodiesel to fuel trucks.
Additionally, the store will offer a broad selection of recyclable bag offerings, from cloth to bin; secure bicycle racks, and accessibility by public transit.
Loblaw is Canada's largest food distributor and a leading provider of general merchandise, drugstore, and financial products and services. The company is one of the largest private-sector employers in the country, with over 139,000 full-time and part-time employees.
Additionally, at 120,000 square feet, the Scarborough location is the largest food retail store to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System) certified in Canada, as well as a prototype for future Loblaws stores across the country. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
In constructing the new store, the grocer built on the success and learnings of its first environmental flagship store, which opened in Repentigny, Que. in April 2004.
"Undertaking the LEED accreditation process for the store has resulted in many new, environmentally friendly design approaches that we will also incorporate in future stores," noted Loblaw Cos. v.p. Mark Schembri.
"Loblaw is changing the face of Canadian grocery retail with their Scarborough Superstore," added Peter Love, Ontario's chief energy conservation Officer, who yesterday presented the company with a Certificate of Recognition for its energy management and conservation efforts. "I hope the energy efficiency initiatives incorporated in the heating, cooling, and lighting systems will inspire other retailers to make similar changes. This will reduce the amount of wasted energy, limit our collective greenhouse gas production, and ultimately grow businesses' bottom line."
To remove the heat from chilled and frozen display fixtures, traditional supermarkets employ a considerable amount of refrigerant gas. When these refrigerants leak, they cause greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, the Scarborough Superstore, using alternate design approaches, has lowered this refrigerant charge by 85 percent. The store is the first low temperature secondary CO2 system in Canada, and the largest in North America. This system will cause an estimated reduction to the store's carbon footprint of 15 percent.
To lower the energy associated with store heating, the store's retail sales area will be entirely heated in the winter with recycled heat that is rejected from the refrigeration system, resulting in a further reduction of the store's carbon footprint by 7 percent.
Among the other green features of the store are:
--Motion-activated LED lighting in the freezer cases to cut energy usage by an estimated 50 percent.
--An electricity demand response system that lowers the store's electricity consumption, based on the demand on the provincial grid.
--Multiple waste diversion streams to meet Loblaw's 70 percent waste diverted from landfill target: One diversion involves collecting grease from cooking chickens in the stores and converting it to biodiesel to fuel trucks.
Additionally, the store will offer a broad selection of recyclable bag offerings, from cloth to bin; secure bicycle racks, and accessibility by public transit.
Loblaw is Canada's largest food distributor and a leading provider of general merchandise, drugstore, and financial products and services. The company is one of the largest private-sector employers in the country, with over 139,000 full-time and part-time employees.