WAL-MART GOES GREEN
July 26th, 2005
“Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open two experimental stores that test ‘green technologies’ aimed at protecting the environment, saving energy and saving the company money.
The first store, in McKinney, features a windmill, solar panels and a drip-irrigation system for water conservation, Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart said Tuesday in a statement. Wal-Mart manager Brent Allen points to thermostatically controlled louvers in the new McKinney, Texas, store.
Cooking oil from the deli and automotive oil from Tire and Lube Express will be burned to heat the building.”
Wow…go Wal-Mart. For them, it’s two birds one stone: why not save the company a bit of cash (since Wal-mart certainly needs the help!) and “help” out the environment…or at least pretend like it! Not to be all cynical, but Wal-Mart going green is just as sketchy as McDonald’s selling health foods: it all seems like a marketing sketch, rather than an actual concern for people or the environment.
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July 26th, 2005 at 12:52 pm
Joe, you may be right about Walmart not actually caring much about the environment. On the other hand, if they can prove that being green will save them money, that is a much more powerful argument to a lot of people.
I wonder if they’re going to lock employees into these new stores overnight as they have in the past.
July 26th, 2005 at 4:28 pm
i, too, am especially skeptical of Walmart. Hopefully this new documentary will cover things like this type of marketing scheme.
on the up side, it does show that green activists / enthusiasts are actually pulling weight in the marketing world. Guess our dollar really does make a difference.
July 27th, 2005 at 2:35 am
I don’t know the background on these stores, but this might A. have to do with China (Walmart’s expanding into China and China’s passed a bunch of regulations requiring new buildings to be green) and B. it might have to do with the local government where their building the new walmart. Small towns all over the u.s. have a tendency to give Walmart hell when Sam comes to town. Frequently before Walmart’s building plans can be approved the city changes building codes and other things to further make it harder for Walmart to build. I might add in Florida Walmart’s been forced to provide multi-story parking lots and energy effecient designs before. Hence the green building thing might be a way of further justifying their expansion (and meeting any potential new building codes lobbed to keep their development away). But ya know, maybe their just smarts dudes and wanna go green.
July 27th, 2005 at 3:43 am
although having now cruised the mckinney, tx site I can’t find any evidence that they were restricted into green building codes and several texas environmental groups are praising the decession. never know. didn’t know that mckinney is the fatest growing small town in texas. kinda sounds like a small austin from the website’s description.
peace,
a
July 27th, 2005 at 5:29 am
ok turns out McKinney been up and pushing the green building for awhile:
McKinney Economic Development Corporation
321 N. Central Expressway, Suite 200
McKinney, Texas 75070
For More Information Contact:
David Pitstick, President & CEO
PH: 972-562-5430
FX 972-562-1222
pitstick@mckinneytxedc.com
Unique, Environmentally Friendly Office Building Breaks Ground in McKinney Thursday
McKINNEY, Texas (Feb. 24, 2005) – McKinney city officials and representatives from West World Holding, Inc., will break ground on a unique and environmentally innovative office building at 3 p.m. on Thursday at 4500 Eldorado Parkway.
West World Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of Wereldhave N.V., has outlined a company wide strategy regarding environmental issues as they relate to real estate owned and developed by the company. With that strategy in mind, a decision was made to design and build what may be the first privately developed LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) platinum building in the United States.
The new building, which will be completed in the fall of 2006, will be a three-story, 61,800 square foot, sustainable designed structure. The building will be a prime example of how commercial office developments can be compatible with good stewardship of the environment.
The site will use no potable water for irrigation. Irrigation water will be provided by captured stormwater stored on site in underground and above ground containers. Excess stormwater will be cleaned of contaminates before being permitted to leave the site. The building will use 30% less water than a typical office building, with wastewater being reduced by 50 percent.
The McKinney Green Building will use 60 percent less energy than a customary office building by utilizing Geo-thermal heat pump HVAC systems, energy efficient lighting, sunshade devices, natural daylight, under-floor air distribution, solar hot water heating, and an exhaust air heating and air conditioning recovery system. Over 10 percent of the energy use of this building will be produced by on-site photovoltaic panels. Green power, purchased from a Wind Farm, will supply the balance of any needed electrical energy.
More than 75 percent of the construction waste generated at this site will be recycled and will not go to a landfill. More than 20 percent of the project’s materials will be manufactured locally and more than 50 percent of the project’s materials will contain recycled content.
This building will maintain a very high indoor air quality by incorporating an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan during construction and before occupancy. Interior construction materials will have a low VOC content. Copy and cleaning product storage areas will be separately ventilated and an under-floor air distribution system will give occupants control of the ventilation in their space. More than 75 percent of the occupiable space will have access to natural light, with more than 90 percent of the occupiable space having views of the exterior. Outdoor patios will be provided to encourage outdoor activities. Tenants will be encouraged to carpool or, if possible, to ride a bicycle to work.
When complete, Building tours will be provided to the public, along with educational materials explaining the benefits of incorporating a sustainable design concept into commercial office development.
“The MEDC is excited to be a partner with West World in bringing this unique office development to McKinney,†states David Pitstick, MEDC President & CEO. “It will certainly bring quality jobs and make a positive statement about McKinney’s stewardship of the environment.â€Â
“We’re happy to welcome West World Holding, Inc., a company that shares our environmental values, to our community. This is a great addition to McKinney. It’s an economic development success story in an environmentally innovative facility. And it fits in great with the message we are sending: McKinney is unique by nature – and businesses and facilities like this are a big part of the reason why,†said McKinney Mayor Pro Tem Brian Loughmiller.
The McKinney Green Building was designed by HDR Architecture, Inc. The general contractor is Austin Commercial, L.P. Andres Construction Services, LLC, will be responsible for construction management. Ground breaking for the new building will be held on Thursday, February 24th, starting at 3:00PM, at 4500 Eldorado Parkway in McKinney. The location is adjacent to Saxon Woods Apartments, an upscale apartment community, also developed by West World Holding, Inc. and managed by its West World Management, Inc. affiliate. For more information about The McKinney Green Building, or leasing opportunities, please call Sandra Heffernan with West World Management, Inc. at 972-680-3131.
July 28th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
thanks for the researched update alj!
cool thing about the new Walmart Movie site, too, is that they are accepting stories about Walmart from anyone.
i’ve personally heard all sorts of horror stories from individuals (walmart refusing to pay for shipments because they’re a small company, ignoring of workers rights, etc. etc.)
it’ll be neat to see if the movie is able to objectively discuss how Walmart is changing the landscape of America.
August 3rd, 2005 at 6:17 pm
yeah actually contacted McKinney and it turns out Walmart contacted them about building the green Walmart there. So yes, they really are interested in experimenting with sustianble buildings despite their ya know anti-union taking out the small guy stance. McKinney is encourgaging green buildings, but doesn’t require them. They are however working with Walmart and other companies to build guidelines for reasonably sustianable buildings that won’t hurt business cost.
peace,
a
June 19th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
can i get more info about the green marketing strategies that Wal Mart used currently to improve their business status..reply asap
July 6th, 2006 at 11:10 am
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