Going for platinum ...

For two weeks this month people around the world will disrupt their ordinary routines to watch the extraordinary athletic competitions at the Beijing Olympic Games. While the best of the best go for gold, PCC is going for platinum.

Construction of PCC’s ninth store in Edmonds, Wash. is close to completion. All of the usual features that turn a building into a grocery store are taking shape, but many unusual ones — focused on achieving outstanding energy efficiency and systems performance — are also coming together. All bets are on that PCC Edmonds will qualify for LEED® Platinum certification and become the first grocery store ever to earn this distinction for exceptional design, construction and operation of “green” building.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the highly regarded rating system administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. Last year PCC Redmond made headlines by earning LEED Gold, but it’s the substance, not the fame, of PCC’s commitment to operate sustainably that’s important.

Out with the old
The new store is in an old building and virtually everything inside had to go. Wood, metal and drywall were collected, and an astounding 106 tons of materials — 92 percent of what was removed — was recycled. Even clean insulation — two truckloads — found new life, as it was taken to the United Way in Chehalis for use in rebuilding homes and businesses damaged by flooding last December.

Let there be light
Shoppers won’t have any trouble seeing PCC’s amazing food due to 36 skylights cut into the store ceiling. This welcome addition meant that very few additional lights were needed … a huge savings in electricity and a much warmer, welcoming feeling throughout the store.

A walk on the tile side
The old floor was awful; not kind to the eyes or grocery cart wheels, and not easily cleaned and maintained. The new floor is special ceramic tile, with non-cart-rattling square edges. The tile will never require waxing, stripping or repolishing and, if one breaks, it can be replaced with little disruption in store traffic.

What else will be special about Edmonds? Check back next month, but here’s a preview: Store toilets will be flushed with rainwater collected from the roof. How cool … and water conserving … is that?!