Sustainability

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers has announced the installation of the company’s first solar energy system at the Shops at Saugus in Saugus, Mass. The 18,740-sq.-ft. photovoltaic array, built with 1,064 rooftop panels, will generate an estimated 250 KW of renewable energy annually. The zero-emission power source will supply nearly 65% of the power needed by the center’s grocer Trader Joe’s.

CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Select Lowe's stores and Lowes.com will now offer an exclusive collection of energy-efficient tankless water heaters from Jacuzzi Group Worldwide.

Powered by natural gas or propane, Jacuzzi brand tankless units heat water as it is needed. In addition, tankless water heaters use up to 30% less energy than a traditional tank-style water heater, saving a typical family hundreds of dollars per year, according to the company. 

New York City -- Belk plans to remodel almost 30 stores this year as the department store company focuses on upgrading its existing space, the Charlotteobserver.com reported.

Last year, Belk spent about $70 million on store remodels and renovations. In 2012, the chain plans to increase that slightly, to $75 million, and then spend up to $130 million a year in 2013 and 2014, according to the report.

Lancaster, Pa. -- Giant Food Stores announced that roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems have been installed and are operational at two of its locations in Lancaster and Pottstown. In-store flat panel monitors will reveal to customers in real time how the system operates and the energy savings being achieved.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- Stater Bros. will open a new, eco-friendly supermarket in Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Feb. 22.

At 43,279 sq. ft., the new Stater Bros. is over 76% larger than a smaller Stater Bros. location it is replacing. The store features refrigerated display cases with LED lighting, ECM motors, and glass doors using 60% less energy. It also has lighting system that use dimming ballasts, energy efficient lamps, and occupancy sensors.

Other environmental features include:

Fort Worth, Texas -- Chick-fil-A received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for its restaurant at Montgomery Plaza, Fort Worth, Texas. It is the first LEED Gold-certified restaurant in Fort Worth. The chain has committed to build four more LEED designed restaurants in 2012, and will incorporate energy conservation measures and recycled materials into all new restaurant construction activities.

Lancaster, Pa. -- One of the supermarket chains operated by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold has installed rooftop solar panels at two of its stores.

Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores — also known as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, also owned by Ahold — said it had installed solar photovoltaic systems at stores in Lancaster and Pottstown, Pa.

Toy buyers, manufacturers, retailers and others, simply curious about the latest trends, gathered this week at the massive Javitz Center in New York City to see what would be the hottest products for 2012.

Technology continues to be a popular driver of new products, as evidenced by the number of toys designed specifically to work with the iPhone or iPad. However, there was also an apparent shift toward more simple toys, perhaps reflecting the current economy and the inability of many parents to shell out $100 on a toy that will only get played with a short while.