Groundbreaking Hannaford store takes on new sustainability challenge with pursuit of Living Building Challenge Core green building certification

*For images and b-roll of the Cony Street Hannaford store, visit bit.ly/HannafordConyStreet. Photo captions and b-roll index available below.*

 

For Immediate Release

October 11, 2023

 

Groundbreaking Hannaford store takes on new sustainability challenge with pursuit of Living Building Challenge Core green building certification

 

The Cony Street Hannaford in Augusta, Maine set the bar for sustainable retail operations worldwide when it opened in 2009 as the first supermarket in North America to achieve Platinum LEED for Retail certification

 

If successful at conclusion of year-long evaluation period, Cony Street store will be first supermarket in the U.S. to achieve the Living Building Challenge Core for Interiors Certification

 

SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets announced today that an Augusta, Maine store that made history for its sustainable construction will pursue a new standard that puts ecology at the core of its daily work.

 

Celebrating its 15th year and recently remodeled, the Hannaford Cony Street store is pursuing the Living Building Challenge Core green building certification, an advanced regimen of sustainability standards developed by the International Living Future Institute. The performance-based certification looks at how the building and its operations support ecology, community and energy-efficiency to advance a sustainable future.

 

The pursuit marks the next step in the Cony Street store’s legacy of setting new sustainability standards for supermarkets. The store opened in 2009 as the first supermarket in North America to achieve Platinum status in the LEED for Retail rating system, having been built to the highest standards of the U.S. Green Building Council with eco-friendly, energy-saving features, systems and materials.

 

“This new standard elevates considerations like the store’s fit with nature; its commitment to community, inclusiveness, equity, and good jobs; and it also keeps the bar high for carbon reduction, responsible water use, and responsible materials,” said George Parmenter, sustainability lead for Hannaford Supermarkets. “We’re excited to embark on this journey and thank the Cony Street associates who are making this possible through their daily actions and commitment to advancing the health, wellness and sustainability of our community.” 

 

In considering new benchmarks for the Cony Street store, Hannaford partnered with the Portland, Maine office of Thornton Tomasetti, a global engineering consulting firm with a dedicated sustainability practice, who brought forward the Living Building Challenge Core certification.

 

“The Core rating system is one of the most robust sustainability frameworks available,” said Heather Walters, vice president in Thornton Tomasetti’s Sustainability Practice. “With a requirement to meet each of ten imperatives, the system goes beyond energy and water efficiency. The system recognizes holistic sustainability and commitment to the community, which made it a great fit for Hannaford.” 

 

To obtain the Living Building Challenge Core certification, a project must meet 10 imperatives that represent best practices for sustainable buildings. The measures include standards on responsible water use through the installation of low-flow fixtures; iceless seafood displays; and native, low-water plantings in the landscaping and on the store’s green roof. The store also uses 70 percent less energy than a baseline building, making it the most energy-efficient store per square foot under the Hannaford banner.

 

The store’s remodel made the use of locally-sourced, sustainable materials a priority – with 20 percent of materials sourced within a 311-mile radius and 50 percent of wood incorporated into the design salvaged or certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Additional salvaged materials from the existing building, such as refurbished refrigerators and concrete floors, were reused when possible; and 80 percent of renovation waste was diverted from landfills and recycled.

 

The store also incorporates features that encourage community members to take more sustainable, eco-friendly actions. For example, the store’s layout supports pedestrian-oriented communities with features including bike storage, e-bike chargers and access to public transportation, among other factors. An education and inspiration standard weighs whether the store inspires action toward a greener future through community engagement that advances equity and inclusion.

 

Since the certification is largely measured by daily operations, it is evaluated over a one-year period. Hannaford will know if it has met the mark for the new certification in fall 2024.

 

“The Cony Street store has always been about stretching ourselves to not only offer a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience, but to set a new standard that evolves the way retail operators and customers alike think about sustainable actions we can all take to better our environment and the community,” said Ross Mosher, director of retail capital development for Hannaford Supermarkets. “We are looking forward to this challenge and thank our customers for supporting and joining us on this journey.”

 

Since opening in 2009, the Cony Street store has served as a sustainability incubator for Hannaford – creating a space where new features and operations can be evaluated before being implemented at other stores. For example, LED lights were a new energy-saving tool when the store opened. Now, Hannaford stores are saving 500,000 kilowatt hours with LEDs each year, enough to power 46 homes for a year.

 

Other sustainability practices across all 187 Hannaford stores that are aligned with concepts pioneered by the Cony Street store include:

-Hannaford stores are audited each year for environmentally preferred practices. The Ratio Institute’s Sustainable Food Retail Certification process reviews water use, energy use, and storm water run-off to minimize environmental impact.

-Hannaford has committed that all of its stores will be fully-powered by renewable energy by 2024. Additionally, all stores are taking the lead to meet a net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2040.

-Since 2021, Hannaford stores have diverted or donated all food at risk of going to waste – sending no food to landfills.

 

For more information about Hannaford’s sustainability leadership and continued efforts, visit www.Hannaford.com/Sustainability.

 

Photo Captions

Associate Bike Rack: A Hannaford associate positions his bike on the in-store bike rack at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. The bike rack is available to all retail associates and supports the store’s pedestrian-oriented layout.

 

Associate Break Room Natural Light: Associates gather in the break room at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. Windows in the break room bring in natural light, contributing to the store’s energy-efficiency with 83 percent of common spaces in the store providing outside views and daylight access.

 

Customer Bike Rack: A bike rack for customers outside the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. The bike rack is available to all customers and supports the store’s pedestrian-oriented layout.

 

Exterior: The exterior of the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. The design incorporates locally-sourced, sustainable materials such as wood and stone. 20 percent of materials used in the store remodel were sourced within a 311-mile radius and 50 percent of wood incorporated into the design was salvaged or certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

 

Exterior Group Shot: Leaders from Hannaford Supermarkets and architecture partners Thornton Tomasetti stand outside the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. From left to right: Hannaford Supermarkets Director of Operations Brittany Quirion; Thornton Tomasetti Senior Project Consultant and LEED Green Associate Abigail Moore; Hannaford Supermarkets Director of Retail Capital Development Ross Mosher; Hannaford Supermarkets Cony Street Store Manager Lenny Plourde.

 

Exterior Group Shot 2: Leaders from Hannaford Supermarkets and architecture partners Thornton Tomasetti stand outside the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. From left to right: Hannaford Supermarkets Director of Operations Brittany Quirion; Thornton Tomasetti Senior Project Consultant and LEED Green Associate Abigail Moore; Hannaford Supermarkets Director of Retail Capital Development Ross Mosher; Hannaford Supermarkets Cony Street Store Manager Lenny Plourde.

 

Exterior Pedestrian Walkways: Pedestrian walkways lined with native, low-water plantings lead from the main roadway to the entrance of the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

Exterior with Native Low Water Plants: Landscaping featuring native, low-water plantings at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

George Parmenter and Lenny Plourde: Leaders from Hannaford Supermarkets at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. From left to right: Hannaford Supermarkets Brand Sustainability Lead George Parmenter and Hannaford Supermarkets Cony Street Store Manager Lenny Plourde.

 

Iceless Seafood Case: An iceless seafood case at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. The feature supports responsible water use and management.

 

Interior Group Shot with Natural Lighting and Native Plants: Leaders from Hannaford Supermarkets stand inside the lobby at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. The lobby features natural lighting and native plants. From left to right: Hannaford Supermarkets Director of Retail Capital Development Ross Mosher; Hannaford Supermarkets Cony Street Store Manager Lenny Plourde; and Hannaford Supermarkets Director of Operations Brittany Quirion.

 

LED Lights and Skylights: LED lights and skylights on the ceiling of the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. Hannaford stores save 500,000 kilowatt hours with LEDs annually, enough to power 46 homes for a year.

 

Produce Night Shade: An associate brings down a night shade over a produce case at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine. Night shades contribute to the store’s energy-efficiency by helping to keep the produce fresh while the store is closed.

 

Refrigerated Case with Doors: A energy-efficient refrigerated case at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine features doors and motion-sensor LED lights.

 

Roof Garden: The green roof at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine features native and low-water plantings that do not require irrigation.

 

Signage Energy-Efficiency: Signs throughout the store educate customers about the eco-friendly, energy-efficient features at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

Signage Water Management: Signs throughout the store educate customers about the eco-friendly, energy-efficient features at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

Solar Panels: Solar panels on the roof contribute to energy-efficiency at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

Wood Produce Cart: A cart made of locally-sourced, sustainable wood holds produce at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

B-Roll Index

:01-:08: Exterior of Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

:08-:13: LED lighting at Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

:13-:22: Platinum LEED for Retail certification plaque at Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

:22-:29: LED lighting at Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

:29-1:04: General footage of Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine, including LED lighting, refrigerated cases with doors and motion-sensor lights.

 

1:04-1:14: Associate riding bike to work and storing it at the associate bike rack at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

1:14-1:35: Signage educating customers on sustainability efforts and initiatives at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

1:35-2:06: Time lapse footage of customers shopping at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

2:06-2:58: Hannaford Supermarkets Brand Sustainability Lead George Parmenter (first) and Hannaford Supermarkets Cony Street Store Manager Lenny Plourde (second) tour the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

2:58-3:22: Hannaford Supermarkets Brand Sustainability Lead George Parmenter on the green roof at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

83:22-3:50: Solar panels on the roof at the Cony Street Hannaford store in Augusta, Maine.

 

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets operates 187 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2022, Hannaford donated 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based inScarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.

 

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Media Contact:

Caitlin Cortelyou

External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets

207-885-3132

caitlin.cortelyou@hannaford.com