Jewel-Osco seeks LEED certification for first 'green' store

ITASCA, Ill. Jewel-Osco has announced it will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its first "green" store that opened on Sept. 26 at 370 N. Desplaines in Chicago.

In order to meet the LEED guidelines, Jewel-Osco said its store includes a highly reflective and heat emissive LiveRoof system, incorporating vegetation, which will reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling, water-saving fixtures, energy-efficient lighting, use of non ozone-depleting refrigerants in cooling equipment, and refrigerant leak detection monitors, among other green features.

"We are proud of this new state-of-the-art store and we have worked to meet the rigorous demands of LEED certification," said Keith Nielsen, president of Jewel-Osco. "We have an award-winning track record for our past accomplishments in energy conservation and recycling. Our work on this new store continues a commitment we have followed for many decades."