My Organic Market’s ER

WAL-MART - Recently Wal-Mart has opened three super stores that they are calling their Environmental Demonstration Stores. In these stores they have implemented energy efficiency techniques, that include changes to their structure, equipment, parking lot and the areas surrounding their stores.

The changes made don’t make up an incredibly long list, but a start. In the lighting department, a skylight system has been installed so that more natural light can filter in. Wind turbines have been constructed outside to help reduce their electricity consumption by as much as 5%, and there is one small turbine solely dedicated to powering the street sign. Structural changes include the use of “sustainably harvested” wood for their wood beam roof. New plumbing has also been installed to help redirect runoff water from parking lots, the roof and drinking fountains to a water treatment system. From there the water can be reused to water the plants and trees on the property. Equipment wise, upgrades to their traditionally energy hungry air-conditioning system as well as ice storage system have been made. This will help cut down on ozone depletion. And finally, the parking lots are now made up of recycled asphault to help conserve resources.

Now, with that information put out there, I would like to commend Wal-Mart on the baby steps that they are taking to help make a positive impact on the environment. I will also say that the changes made are long over due, and that they have a long way to go before becoming a positive role model for other organizations and businesses. The recent changes to their stores and sudden interest in the environment, I’m sure, stem from the unpopularity that they have gained over the recent years as more and more reports are being made on the impacts that they are making on new building sites. Why did it take them so long to open their eyes?

I can only hope that Wal-Mart continues to strengthen their environmental efforts and expands the changes to already existing stores. The more people, companies and organizations that get on board with the environment, the better off our future will be.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 1st, 2006 at 7:23 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.