This New England

The "greenest'' supermarket in America may be new Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine, which has the U.S. Green Building Council's highest standard -- a Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

The AP notes that much of the store's roof "is covered with drought-resistant plants to impede water runoff and insulate the 49,000-square-foot store. It draws some of its power from a 41-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system. The roof is dotted with 50 skylights. Water from two geothermal wells 750 feet underground help to keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter.''

Further, "Hannaford recycled virtually all of the construction debris and contents from a high school that once stood on the site and used recycled material throughout the new store.''

Hannaford says its new store is expected to use about half as much energy as a typical supermarket and that that will eventually offset the fact that it cost 25 percent more than the average supermarket to build.

Maybe the tourist trade will help. God knows, Hannaford is promoting this store all over the place.

And they can grow vegetables on the roof to sell below.

 Tags  Hannaford

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