This Used to be my Playground

Ok, actually it used to be my high school. And not the actual building, but the site of my former high school is now the home of the World’s First Platinum-certified LEED supermarket and the first green designed supermarket in the state of Maine. What does that all mean? Well, Platinum designation is the highest rating a company can obtain from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Pretty awesome, huh?

This store consumes about half the energy of a normal supermarket due to modifications they’ve implemented in refrigeration systems. It also has a partial green roof, and energy efficient lighting (skylights!).

This is the best shot I could get of the “green roof”. This 7,000 square foot green area on the roof will reduce water runoff, help insulate the store and reclaim greenspace!

When you enter, there is a whole learning center devoted to educating visitors about the green practices of the store!

As far as the interior goes, it was definitely super bright and had some unique features. One thing I found pretty cool? The lights in the freezers dim when the doors are closed to save energy. Good idea!

Way to go Augusta!