A controversial film about Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, circulated throughout most of North America in 2005. However accurate or inaccurate the film, it is certainly inconsistent with the identity that Wal-Mart is currently building for itself.
In fact, many experts maintain that the negative picture portrayed in the movie is quite the contrary -- that Wal-Mart is actually taking a leadership role among all retailers by developing stores that use less energy, are constructed of more environmentally preferable and sustainable products, and that are overall healthier facilities in which to work and shop.
Currently, Wal-Mart is testing some 50 different systems and products that help save energy and conserve natural resources. And major retailers throughout North America are closely watching these tests. The systems include adding wind turbines to stores to generate electricity and installing shelves and counters made of recycled glass to minimize the need for plastics and formaldehyde, which is used in producing conventional laminated shelving.
Wal-Mart's Supercenter in Aurora, Colo., is one of two new green megastores.
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Referred to as the "Aurora Experiment" because it involves two 200,000-plus-square-foot stores in McKinney, Texas, and Aurora, Colo., the project's ultimate goal is not only to reduce the energy demands of the stores, but also to decrease the number of raw, non-sustainable materials necessary to build and operate them.
Renewable materials would be substituted wherever possible. According to the company, two government-sponsored laboratories are monitoring the project and will release the experiment's results in three years. Already, initial studies find these stores are 6 percent to 10 percent more energy efficient than the average, traditional Wal-Mart outlet.
The company says that along with the Aurora Experiment, it is also investing more than $500 million annually in developing eco-friendly store technologies, which, as part of their commitment to environmental responsibility, they plan to share with other retailers in the United States and abroad at no cost. Some of these technologies, as well as the Aurora experiments, are obvious to staff and shoppers, while others are less noticeable. For instance, at the Aurora store:
- The building's roof has been modified so that it allows natural light to flood the store, which reduces the need for artificial lighting and thereby saves energy.
- An alternative ventilating system has been installed using low-velocity fans to better distribute supplied air, which helps to provide cooler or warmer air when and where needed and saves energy on heating and cooling. This system alone is expected to save about 467,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
- Bioswales, which are channels planted with shrubs, grass, and rocks, have been installed in the parking lots. These help to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff from the parking lots.
- Fly ash, a by-product of coal-generated electricity, and slag, a by-product of steel manufacturing, were mixed with concrete to help reduce the amount of raw materials used to build the stores.
- Bamboo flooring has been installed, and a customer courtesy desk is made of cork tack board.
- A south-facing solar wall has been installed to help heat the stores, and a 50-kilowatt wind turbine reduces the store's power demands.
- Water-conserving fixtures save from one to three gallons of water per flush. Additionally, drought-tolerant plants and drip-irrigation landscaping have been installed.
- Food freezers and coolers, normally left open to shoppers, now have glass doors to contain the cold air and reduce energy usage.
- Green roofing systems are being added to some stores around the country to evaluate how well they reduce heating and cooling needs, as well as manage storm water runoff.
The Greening of Other Retailers
Other retailers are taking green steps on their own. Many of the Apple stores, for instance, now sport green roofs, as does the corporate headquarters of Gap in Northern California; these help reduce energy demands because of their added roof insulation as they absorb pollutants and return oxygen into the air.
However, what may be deemed one of the greenest and most eco-responsible stores in North America is the Roots Rosedale store located in Toronto. Throughout the store,
EcoLogo-certified products have been incorporated into the construction of the facility; the owners believe it is their personal and corporate responsibility to make the store as environmentally preferable and sustainable as possible.
Some of the many environmentally responsible and sustainable products integrated into the store include:
Quarter-cut white oak. All of the wood products purchased for the store come from forests that have been certified by the independent Forest Stewardship Council, an international nonprofit organization that verifies that certain forests meet stringent social and environmental standards. Bamboo flooring. All of the floors in the store are made of solid and durable EcoLogo-certified bamboo flooring.
Water-based adhesives. Instead of conventional adhesive materials that have large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other air pollutants, water-based adhesives -- which are more protective of the environment -- are used to secure the bamboo floors and other building materials needed to construct the store, including Multibond.
Pure Performance paint. This interior latex paint from PPG has no VOCs, has little odor, and helps prevent the formation of mold and mildew on painted surfaces. This type of paint has also received EcoLogo certification as well as certification from other organizations such as Green Seal.
Zerofootprint electricity offsets. Although the Roots store does not have wind turbines like the experimental Wal-Mart stores, the company is involved in a program called
Zerofootprint Electricity Offsets. This program invests in projects that reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions typically necessary to generate electricity, and helps to replenish the resources that have been consumed to meet the store's electrical needs.
Future Trends
Without question, we will see more retailers make their facilities more eco-friendly and sustainable in the future. Most likely, they will do this to save energy, reduce operating expenses, and because many, such as the owners of Roots Rosedale, simply think it is the right thing to do. However, another driving force behind retailers' newfound commitment to the environment is the marketing opportunities going green creates.
Retailers, as well as manufacturers and service providers, are finding that new doors open for them with a high-performance building. They are discovering that they can convert measures that protect our environment into winning and profitable business strategies. This is because we are entering an era where consumers expect corporations to become more environmentally responsible -- and are awarding them for doing so. Moreover, those that are actively taking these steps today will likely be the leaders in their respective industries and benefit the most from going green.
