by jbs012709i3 — January 30, 2009—Wal-Mart Canada has announced the opening of its first environmental demonstration store in Burlington, Ontario, which features a first-of-its-kind application of geothermal technology in a large-scale Canadian retail operation and energy-conserving lighting innovations, among many other sustainable features.
This year, Wal-Mart Canada will begin to roll out prototypical stores that are 30 percent more energy efficient. The new Burlington supercenter is expected to use an estimated 60 percent less energy than the company’s typical supercenter store and to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 141 tons. It is also expected to divert an estimated 85 percent of its waste from landfill through a variety of recycling programs.
Features include geothermal heating and cooling technology; daylight harvesting; motion-activated LED lights in refrigerator and freezer cases; Low-wattage parking lot lights and LED external signs; and low flow sinks, toilets, and urinals.
