New Starbucks stores to go green

While the environment has gotten lost somewhere between the economy and health care, Starbucks has been devising a way to cut their energy costs by one quarter by the end of next year, according to a Reuters news article. So far they have a two-pronged approach to energy efficiency and cost reduction, that will benefit the coffee juggernaut, the consumers, the environment, and, perhaps most importantly of all, set an enormous precedent of a huge chain store going green.
Starbucks to use LED lighting
The company’s first green initiative is to replace traditional, energy-gobbling incandescent halogen light bulb’s with more efficient LED’s (light emitting diodes). This is a wonderful idea, that many more of us would have probably already done if many energy efficient light bulbs were not lacking in, well, light. Because Starbucks has asked for a certain level of efficiency, combined with quality, GE Consumer and Industrial has stepped up to the plate and created the product. Thus, Starbucks has broadened the market for energy efficient light bulbs, raising quality standards that all consumer’s will benefit from. Starbucks expects a 7% reduction in energy costs from the lighting changes.
Starbucks to have new locations LEED certified
Starbucks’ second green initiative is to have all new, company owned locations LEED certified. What is LEED certification? It is an internationally recognized green building certification system, according to the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC provides LEED certification in America, for both residential and commercial building. They basically look at several issues, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions, green building materials, indoor air quality, and energy savings, and then apply a rating based on the level of ‘greenness.’
Again, not only will Starbucks benefit from this decision, as their energy costs will decrease dramatically, but the customers who breath the cleaner indoor air, the environment that is less impacted, and other businesses who will now have a model of a major company turning green.