6 Ahold USA Stores Earn LEED Certification

[Sherman A1]

Six recently built Ahold USA stores have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the Washington-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the national accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance sustainable buildings. This latest round of certifications gives Ahold USA the largest fleet of LEED-certified stores among U.S. grocery retailers.

The stores are Cranston, R.I., and Roslindale, Mass., Stop & Shop locations operated by the Stop & Shop New England division; Arverne, N.Y., and Oceanside, N.Y., Stop & Shop locations operated by the Stop & Shop New York Metro division; a Burtonsville, Md., Giant location operated by Giant-Landover division; and a Trexlertown, Pa., Giant Food location operated by the Giant-Carlisle division. These stores feature white roofs to reflect sunlight and reduce heat gain in the stores, skylights to harvest daylight and lower electricity consumption during peak daylight hours, and LED lighting throughout. Additionally, smaller cooling systems boost the efficiency of refrigerated display cases, and open-deck refrigerated cases have been replaced with closed-door units.

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, the council’s president, CEO and founding chair. “With these certifications, Ahold USA has demonstrated its commitment to the green building movement and working toward a better future for everyone in the neighborhoods and communities in which these stores will be a part of daily life.”

“By utilizing these innovative green building technologies, we are building all-new stores across our retail divisions according to the LEED standards to reduce our environmental impact in the communities we serve for future generations,” noted Jihad Rizkallah, VP, responsible retailing at Ahold USA in Carlisle, Pa.

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/equipment/id37726/6-ahold-usa-stores-earn-leed-certification/?icid=homepage

[Renew Deal]

1. I've been to one of those stores and had no idea

Last edited Wed Apr 3, 2013, 08:58 AM - Edit history (1)

The store is massive. It is brightly lit with very high ceilings. I remember the closed door refrigerators, though I don't remember if they are used throughout the store or not. Still, it's nice to hear that they did this and it raises my opinion of them.

[Sherman A1]

2. I have never been to one of their stores

and know nothing about the chain. That said, I do applaud their efforts in this area and think it really shows what can be done to make everyone's lot a bit better.

[LiberalEsto]

3. I'll have to drive over to Burtonsville to check out the Giant store

Back when I was still employed, I wrote numerous articles on green buildings, LEED certification, efficient refrigeration and cooling systems and so forth, for industry magazines and internet sites.

It is really gratifying to see companies pursing LEED certification. I wish more would do it, but most CEOs only care about the current fiscal quarter and their obscene bonuses.

Thank you for posting this!

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Excellent! I wish there was a store near me

that was caring enough to do this. If I am ever near one of these stores, I will definitely check it out....it would be interesting to see how this all comes together.

[MADem]

5. Ever since Royal Ahold took over Giant and Stop and Shop, the quality of produce has gone down, and

the prices for everything have gone up. They really do the Pay More, Get Less model. And their loyalty cards are intrusive--if you sign up, sign up as Buzz Auff, 1 Main Street, 555-1212, otherwise they'll sell your details to the highest bidder.

I think it's nice they've done this, and good for them to set an example, but I won't patronize them except in an emergency. I just don't like 'em.

[LiberalEsto]

6. True. At Giant, cucumbers cost 99 cents apiece all year round

even during the peak of their local growing season. Before the Magruder's grocery chain closed a couple of months ago, I used to get 2 or 3 cucumbers for a dollar there, 4 for a dollar when they were in season.

Giant produce has sucked for a long time. When we moved to Maryland from New Jersey 23 years ago. I was appalled by the crummy produce and high prices. Still am. I wish there was an alternative, but Safeway is their main competition locally, and I dislike Safeway even more.

[MADem]

7. I still am appalled when I go to DC and compare the difference in prices between there and

New England...or even NY-Queens! And no good deli? How can anyone survive without decent deli?

I know, there aren't many choices--ya have to find a farmer's market or suck it up. The Food Lion is pretty ghastly, Trader Joe's is good for some stuff but they aren't really a super-duper produce joint, and the Whole Paychecks are just absurdly expensive!

EDIT--I used to go to an Albertson's that wasn't convenient to my house at all, but was convenient to a meeting I had to go to about once a month--it was within striking distance of the beltway and they had some good stuff; dunno if it is still open! They didn't have a lot of produce but at least what they had didn't rot in a day!

[LiberalEsto]

8. And they still haven't got a clue about hard rolls

I have to wonder if there is a law requiring bread in Maryland to have a mushy, non-crisp crust.

Oh, for a hard roll with butter!

[MADem]

9. You are right--what is UP with that?

I had the same problem in UK...then I finally met an Italian guy who ran a restaurant in London--he became my "source" for those nice rosetti rolls!! Crispy crust, not too much "bread" in the middle!