Stop & Shop to participate in LEED pilot

QUINCY, Mass. Stop & Shop and its sister chain, Giant Food today announced that they are the only supermarket chain in the country to have been selected to participate in the US Green Building Council Portfolio Program pilot for LEED volume certification for existing buildings.

"Our acceptance into this pilot, recognizes Stop & Shop and Giant's strong environmental leadership and innovation and our early commitment to and success in developing and operating green and energy efficient stores," stated Stop & Shop and Giant president and ceo, Jose Alvarez.

The USGBC Portfolio Program is a pilot program that enables owners to integrate the LEED green building rating system into new and existing buildings in their company's portfolio, and do so in a cost effective way without sacrificing the technical rigor and integrity of LEED. The Portfolio Program recognizes market leaders who have committed to and achieved high levels of LEED certification within their portfolio. Participants in the pilot program represent a cross section of market sectors, including institutional investors, financial institutions, hoteliers, retailers, higher education, governments and corporations. The USGBC Portfolio Pilot Program is currently closed and expects to be open to the market in 2008.