The state's first LEED certified drugstore opens today in Chicago. The eco-friendly Walgreens is located at California and Diversey in Logan Square, and is the second Walgreens in the country to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
During construction, 85 percent of waste was diverted from landfills. The site used had been a brownfield site, which was cleaned up and redeveloped.
The Logan Square Walgreens features a "green" roof, with white coating to reduce heating/cooling costs, as well as planted vegetation. Efficient water fixtures will save 34,000 gallons of water per year. Coolers, freezers and exterior signs use LED lights, reducing lighting energy use by 50 percent.
The store will save enough electricity to power more than five homes a year. Special parking for bikes and hybrids is available. The blue line and buses are a short walk away.
The grand opening was kicked off with a ceremonial tree planting at 10 a.m. this morning.
Chief environmental officer for the city of Chicago Sadhu Johnston commented, "The environmentally friendly features of this store will contribute to making Chicago a greener city while reducing Walgreens impact on the planet. We encourage all Chicago businesses to consider ways that they can be more environmentally friendly and save electricity."
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