PCC opens new eco-friendly store in Redmond
This article was originally published in May 2006
(May 2006) — This month’s grand opening of PCC’s Redmond store offers Eastside residents a delicious, new shopping destination.
Much like PCC’s Fremont store, the Redmond site will emphasize fresh foods, with large produce and deli departments. It will also share many of the same warm colors, signage and materials. And, as in Fremont, the new store includes a multitude of cutting-edge, eco-friendly features.
“This will be the most environmentally responsible store we’ve built to date, and one of the most environmentally responsible grocery stores in the nation,” said PCC’s director of store development, Lori Ross.
The store is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, a program that evaluates a building’s environmental performance over its lifetime, defining what truly constitutes a “green building.” Requirements include incorporating energy-saving mechanical systems, recycled materials and increased use of daylight. To date only two other grocery stores in the United States have met LEED requirements.
“The LEED standards didn’t require us to make many changes in our building plan,” Ross said. “Most of the requirements are things we’ve done for years.”
Eco-friendly features at the Redmond store include lighting that uses 86 percent less energy than required by state code; 28 skylights; space and hot water heating linked to waste heat from the refrigeration system; and cabinets, tiles and structural steel all made with recycled materials.
Also included in the front corner of the store is a bright, spacious classroom graced by multiple windows and an extra-tall ceiling. “It will be a fabulous meeting space and a stellar teaching kitchen,” says Ross.
The store is located at 11435 Avondale Road N.E. in Redmond (map and directions). A ceremonial ribbon cutting will be held on Wednesday, May 17 at 8 a.m. Enjoy demonstrations from our vendors and our PCC Cooks program throughout May. And visit the PCC Kid Picks Mobile for a fun taste testing on May 17, 20 and 21.