WHOLE FOODS RECOGNIZED FOR 'GREEN' MARKET
SARASOTA -- When Whole Foods Market Inc. committed to open its first organic grocery store on Florida's west coast in early 2003, it planned to stock the shelves with environmentally-friendly foods and "green" cleaning products.
But the Texas-based chain also wanted to make an environmental statement with its 36,000-square-foot building.
The result is an eco-friendly market that includes skylights to reduce electric light; a tank that captures rain and supplies the water used to clean the store; and motion-detecting lights in back that cut off when the store is closed.
When the local Whole Foods debuted in 2004, it further trimmed energy costs by installing a reflective white roof, top-grade insulation and an efficient heating and air conditioning system.
To ensure that the building met green standards, Whole Foods brought in architect The Shimberg Group Inc. and worked with the Florida House on incorporating sustainable elements.
Taken together, the market became the first "green" grocery store in the U.S.
"It shows we're really walking our talk," said Shanti Walls, the store's general manager, or team leader. "We want to be a part of this community, one that is always contributing and not taking away from it."
Whole Foods' corporate parent has shown similar propensities toward the environment. Most notably, in January 2006, Whole Foods became one of the largest users of renewable energy when it struck a deal to purchase wind energy credits to supply its electricity.
The credits -- essentially vouchers -- ensure that the windmill-supplied energy will be plugged into the national energy grid.
In Sarasota, the green extras included by developer Casto-Zenith Ventures LLC and designer Beame Architectural Partnership resulted in a "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" designation from the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington, D.C.-based, nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders focused on promoting environmentally responsible development.
And earlier this year, Sarasota's Whole Foods was recognized as one of "10 noteworthy sustainable retail projects in North America" by the Urban Land Institute, the nation's foremost real estate group dealing with city issues.
"To be recognized by ULI means a lot," said Brett Hutchens, Casto Lifestyle Properties' chief executive. "It's the good housekeeping seal of approval for developers and the real estate industry."
In addition to Whole Foods in Sarasota, ULI also named Abercorn Common in Savannah, Ga.; the Fairlane Green center in Allen Park, Mich.; and retail projects in Seattle, San Bruno, Calif., Ottawa, and Denver.
Though the green additions weren't cheap -- Hutchens estimates the total cost to add the environmental touches approached $400,000 -- Whole Foods wanted to make a statement, he said.
"It was consistent with their corporate culture, and they just felt that it was the right thing to do," Hutchens added.
The green additions have proved so beneficial that Hutchens said Casto is considering implementing at least some of them in planned Whole Foods outlets the company is developing in Ohio and North Carolina.
Back in the Sarasota store, the addition of green technology and design has expanded to operations, Walls said.
"Every day, we make sure that we aren't using anything in the store that isn't green-certified for cleaning," she said.
The green theme even carries through to employee coffee breaks.
"We provide all of our team members with coffee cups, so they're not throwing away paper cups each day," said Nikki Heil, the store's marketing director.
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