Generally, the opening of a new Safeway is no big deal. With 1,775 stores nationwide, the third-largest grocery chain in North America seems to be opening a new store every week. But the company’s top brass turned up in Santa Cruz this week to check out the mammoth new Safeway at the Almar shopping center, the first store in the chain to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
The new store includes such classic features as solar panels and landscaping irrigated with recycled water. It also makes extensive use of natural light, with windows lining two of the store’s walls. The produce section includes an expanded organic section.
For Safeway executives, the best news may be that LEED compliance doesn’t come with a big price tag. “It’s not necessarily more expensive to do a project that is more environmentally conscious if you’re thoughtful in planning,” said Karl Schroeder, President of Safeway’s Northern California division. It’s a lesson that other chains would do well to consider. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
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