Madison Hy-Vee Earns LEED(R) Gold Certification

April 23, 2010

Wisconsin store receives national recognition for green building practices WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Hy-Vee supermarket in Madison, WI has been awarded the prestigious LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the first Hy-Vee store to achieve recognition under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification system, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Among the other green features of the project that helped it earn LEED Gold certification: - Recycled or locally-sourced materials were used in the construction of the building and parking lot, with more than 90 percent of construction waste diverted from landfills. - Water quality equipment installed onsite removes pollutants from rainwater before it enters the public sewer system. - Native grasses and perennial plantings used in landscaping eliminate the need for irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. - Energy cost savings in excess of 30 percent have been achieved through the use of high-energy heating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, low-E windows, a highly reflective roof, large windows and skylights providing natural light, and motion sensors activating LED lights in refrigerated cases. - Low-flow, motion-activated toilets and hand sinks reduce potable water use by 40 percent. - No ozone-depleting chemicals are used in refrigeration. - Paint and wall coverings, adhesives, carpeting and decor elements with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been used throughout the building to reduce exposure to potentially harmful substances. Carbon dioxide monitors automatically adjust building ventilation to assure indoor air quality. - A recycling center for store-generated materials, shower facilities and changing rooms for employees and an information center for customers help promote Hy-Vee's commitment to sustainability.

More