PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle here announced last week that it received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for a 75,000-square-foot store in northeastern Columbus, Ohio, near New Albany. The chain said this store is the first supermarket to receive this recognition in the “new construction” category. The store is designed to consume 20% less energy than comparable, conventionally designed supermarkets, with all of the store’s electricity being produced by green energy sources.
“Becoming a LEED Gold-certified supermarket underscores Giant Eagle’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Giant Eagle’s senior vice president of sustainability, Robert Garrity, in a statement. “It is a continuation of our work thus far, and a step toward future initiatives.”
In December 2004, Giant Eagle opened the first LEED-certified supermarket in the world in Brunswick, Ohio; the chain opened the first LEED Silver-certified supermarket here in April 2007.
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