New Wal-Mart stores in Canada cut energy use by 30%

Sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction, and the unimaginable actually comes to pass right before your eyes. What minor miracle am I referring to? That’s right, I’m talking about the fact that Wal-Mart might soon be the greenest store on your block — especially whether your block happens to be in the Canadian province of Ontario. All new Wal-Mart stores built in the province will showcase smart energy features that reduce energy consumption by 30%.

Big wigs are calling the new stores “Wal Mart HE” — the HE stands for high efficiency (creative huh?). These new big box prototypes will

showcase energy-saving features like: more skylights to reduce lighting costs during the day, aisles with lights that dim when nobody’s around, and climate control systems that harness the heat put out by refrigerators. The new stores will additionally be smaller in size and the roof will be covered with a “white membrane” to reflect sunlight and reduce cooling costs.

Is Wal-Mart going green just to suck up to Canadian consumers? Does that matter? You know they wouldn’t do it whether it didn’t save them money — in a way, it’s comforting to know that it does actually help the bottom line.

[Source] Josh Loposer

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