Wal-Mart Opens Experimental Supercenter

Bentonville, Ark., Wal-Mart Stores has opened an experimental supercenter in McKinney, Texas. The new prototype will serve as a proving ground for new “green” design and energy management techniques.

The supercenter will carry Wal-Mart’s complete range of offering, including groceries, bakery goods, deli goods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, tire and lube services and a vision center. But the location will do so with special care for the environment. The store will rely on natural and renewable energy sources wherever possible. In other cases, the retailer will repurpose materials that would ordinarily go to waste. For example, used cooking oil and used automotive oil will be combined to serve as fuel to heat the building.

Testing and analysis of the techniques’ effectiveness will be performed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.