Grocer pushes Earthy-friendly store design

Maine prides itself on environmental leadership.

State-owned buildings buy all their energy from renewable sources and state offices are heated by biodiesel.

Now a Maine-based grocery chain has announced plans for a state-of-the-art green supermarket.

Plants would be grown on part of the store's roof to add insulation and control storm water. It would also have photovoltaic panels to generate solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, high-efficiency refrigeration, energy-efficient lighting and an advanced recycling program.

These features are part of the reason that the supermarket, planned for Maine's capital, Augusta, would be the U.S. Green Building Council's first "platinum certified" green grocery store, said Ronald Hodge, Hannaford's chief executive.

"We can think of no better place for Hannaford to invest in a first-in-the-world environmental design," Hodge said.

Hannaford is part of an industry trend stretching well beyond America's borders, said James Carvin, editor of Supermarket Green News.

Hannaford, which is based in Scarborough, Maine, wants to build its store on the former site of Cony High School. Hodge cast it as "a research laboratory" for the company to test innovations that lower energy use, waste and water consumption.

However, the project would violate a 19th century trust agreement of Daniel Cony, who wanted the site limited only to educational uses. Therefore, a new high school has replaced the building that now stands vacant on the proposed market site.

The building in Maine would incorporate the latest in energy-saving technology. But neighbors fear traffic from shoppers and delivery trucks that the market would draw.

According to Manager Megan Hellstedt of Hannaford's environmental sustainability, it's estimated that the store would be 40% more energy-efficient than the industry standard.

And construction would be environmentally friendly too, says the company, which promises to exceed standards set by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council.

The company's goal was to recycle 95% of the building and its contents said Hellsteadt.

"We are leading by example," said Maine Gov. John Baldacci.

-Chasta Nechvatal

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ft-hannaford22oct22,1,927944.story