Downtown

Keeping it Sustainable in the Heart of Seattle

Downtown PCC is our fourth store to pursue Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal Certification. Just a couple blocks from University Street Station, it’s easily accessible by way of low-carbon transportation methods. Inside, you’ll find an impactful carving by local artist Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo, and high-efficiency fixtures, from lighting to plumbing.

LOCAL ART

“My work explores the balance between the environment and industrial activities, inspiring conversations about our complicated relationship with nature. I chose to collaborate with PCC because of their focus on sustainability in their products and even in-store design. I am pleased to have this opportunity to share these carvings with the PCC community – bringing nature into an industrial space.”
– Local artist Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo

FEATURES

materials

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

All wood used is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified. Our work excluding toxic chemicals from all building components was unprecedented in the grocery industry — some components had to be modified or custom designed because toxic-free options were not readily available.

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lighting

HIGH-EFFICIENCY LIGHTING

Designed to maximize the use of natural light when possible, Downtown PCC depends less on electricity during daylight hours. Where natural light is insufficient, we use light emitting diode (LED) fixtures, which consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent fixtures.

Fridge

ENERGY-EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT

Our in-store cooks and kitchen staff use ENERGY STAR Certified equipment wherever possible — our steam cookers use 60% less energy than standard models. Doors installed on refrigerated cases reduce energy use by up to 65%.

Energy

HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION (HVAC-R)

Heat released from the refrigeration system is recycled and used to heat the rest of the building and produce hot water for the store. Our HVAC system is also equipped with hospital-grade air filters that remove small particles and improve indoor air quality.

Sink

LOW-FLOW FIXTURES

Compared to standard models, our steam cookers use 90% less water and our dishwashers use 40% less water. We selected faucets that use 60% less water than standard faucets to achieve the same water pressure.

energy

LOW-CARBON COMMUTING

Downtown PCC is surrounded by a variety of shops, restaurants, office buildings and public transit, making it easily accessible by foot, bike, bus and rail. If you’re driving, you’ll find plug-in stations for electric vehicles in the building’s parking garage.

tree

HABITAT EXCHANGE

The International Living Future Institute’s Habitat Exchange program aggregates funds to protect large tracts of contiguous, high-value ecosystems, maximizing the impact of each contribution. PCC contributed funds to protect, in perpetuity, an area of land equivalent to Downtown PCC’s store footprint.