They following items are green features that were incorporated during the 2008-2009 Wheatsfield expansion project to make this retrofit as green and efficient as possible Since we renovated an existing building, many choices and opportunities to build a green building were not available to us. The efficient use of energy and our natural resources is good stewardship of all that the earth has given us.

Green Space

The reduction of paving and the increase of landscaping areas both at the perimeter of the parking lot as well as at the new entrance to the store. We actually gave up 13 parking spaces to accommodate the landscaping that is in place now.

New sidewalk construction in the summer of 2010 created even more green space by cutting the sidewalks from 8 feet to 4 feet and replacing concrete with grass.

Natural and Recycled Materials

Natural and recycled materials were used in the construction of the façade.

Brick is a natural clay product and Portland cement or concrete block is manufactured using by-products from other manufacturing systems and thus qualifies as recycled material.

We were able to reuse almost 60% of the main electrical service and feeder distribution panels from those existing in the building thus recycling those items and saving money on the project from their reuse.

Paint and laminates have been selected with low VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) as close to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements as possible to make the interior of the store environmentally friendly.

The cement floor including the existing and re-poured portions of the slab were recycled and restored with the Induroshine process that involves diamond grinding, polishing and staining of the cement surface. Use of the Induroshine process with its GreenLine environmentally responsible products for concrete performance meet and exceed LEED certification standards for reuse of existing flooring and is VOC compliant.

Local Materials

We selected components for this project in both materials and equipment that are available nearby thus reducing the amount of energy required to transport components to the jobsite and fulfilling one of the LEED assessments for a green project.

The walk-in coolers were made and shipped from Carroll, Iowa.

The split-faced block or Marquart block were used extensively on the façade is made in Marshalltown, Iowa

The light tan brick used in the façade was made by Sioux City Brick in Sioux City, Iowa.

Efficient Lighting

All of the lighting for the new store is highly efficient incorporating safe electronic ballasts and energy efficient, low mercury ECO T 8 tubes.

Compact fluorescent bulbs were used where possible, specifically in the lighting over the check stands and the deli seating.

The traditional electric exit signs were replaced with ones lit by LED bulbs.

Solatubes (skylights) were installed in the deli seating area to provide natural lighting and reduce the need for artificial lighting.

All of the old light fixtures, ballasts containing PCB and fluorescent lamps containing mercury were removed and disposed of with a certified recycler.

Fluorescent lamps in the freezer units were replaced with LED lights in our first year of operation.

We are currently working through an energy audit that recommends replacing all track and produce lighting with LED's. We are in the process of selecting an LED replacement for the track lights and will do the same for the produce lights when they become available in early 2012.

We recycle used bulbs to a certified recycling facility in Bondurant.

Efficient Refrigeration & HVAC

The refrigeration and HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) systems are high efficiency units.

The refrigeration rack is a Tyler Enviroguard III system that uses the highest efficiency refrigeration compressors available and is controlled by a computerized rack controller. The Tyler Enviroguard III system uses R-440A refrigerant which was the only refrigerant accepted by LEED at the time of installation.

The HVAC system is a multiple unit system that allows the systems to operate independently as the heating and cooling conditions change throughout the store. These high efficiency units use individual thermostats to sense the temperatures throughout the store and also have a humidity sensing and control system to maintain proper humidity levels to maximize the efficiency of the refrigeration and the HVAC systems. Store temperature is maintained at 72 degrees year round.

The CaptiveAire kitchen hood and make-up air system have been designed to vent the least amount of exhaust as allowed by code and provide fresh make-up air to balance the store and not have a negative discharge and infiltration of outside air.

Excess heat generated by the refrigeration rack system is reclaimed to heat hot water year round.

Recycling in the Store

We reduce store waste by composting in the produce department along with maintaining our extensive recycling of cardboard, paper and other recyclables.