Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG), the nation's largest drugstore chain, has opened its second drugstore that meets top environmental requirements for efficiency and design.
The new store is in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood and meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards-a certification of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Chicago store features a "green roof" with plants growing on it. The roof also has a white coating to help reduce heating and cooling costs. The store will save nearly 34,000 gallons of water a year with efficient water fixtures. During construction, 85% of waste was diverted from landfills. The site was a brownfield which was cleaned up and redeveloped for this project. Coolers, freezers and exterior signs all use LED lights, reducing energy use by 50% over fluorescent lighting. The store will save enough electricity to power more than five homes a year. In addition, there is special parking for hybrid vehicles, bike racks and nearby public transportation.
Walgreen's first LEED-certified store opened in June in Mira Mesa, Calif. The next one is planned to open in Normal, Ill., early next year with two more locations to follow. The company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint also include the use of solar panel systems on 74 of its locations in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Oregon. For more information on Walgreens green efforts and commitment to corporate social responsibility, visit www.walgreens.com/responsibility.