May 31 2010
Today, members of the community and other guests gathered at Starbucks to mark the grand opening of their first-ever LEED registered store in Canada. Located at the corner of Bathurst and St. Clair, this location is one of 12 Starbucks stores worldwide taking part in the company's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) pilot project.
The new store format and design is part of Starbucks's Shared Planet(TM) initiative. First announced in late 2008, Starbucks' Shared Planet(TM) environmental stewardship program represents the company's commitment to creating a better future for farmers, communities and the environment and significantly reducing its environmental footprint through recycling and green construction.
If the pilot is successful, Starbucks aims to achieve LEED(R) certification for all new company-owned stores worldwide by late 2010.
The store at Bathurst and St. Clair features many unique design and construction elements, including:
- Tables and seating made from reclaimed materials such as bowling lanes from a Scarborough bowling alley
- Siding, cladding and wainscoting made from a locally-sourced fallen barn
- LED and low-voltage lighting
- Variable flush toilets and metered water fixtures
- Paints and solvents that are low VOC
- Reduced reliance on construction materials due to exposed surfaces, polished and densified concrete floors
"We are truly excited to have opened the first Canadian store in Starbucks's global LEED pilot project," said Robert Luciano, Starbucks's Director of Store Development for Eastern Canada. "This store is unique in terms of its design and the materials which have been used to construct it. Through this opening, and those happening around the world, Starbucks continues its commitment to delivering a specialty coffee experience while refreshing our store design approach with an amplified focus on local relevance and environmental responsibility."
Toronto-based environmental charities Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots and Evergreen also attended the launch and lent their support to the LEED initiative. Roots and Shoots, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute, is a network dedicated to encouraging youth of all ages to take action to improve the world through projects that promote care and concern for animals, the environment and the community. Evergreen aims to empower Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments.
"We are delighted to be supporting Starbucks's LEED registered store grand opening here in Toronto," said Stewart Chisholm, Common Grounds Program Director for Evergreen. "Initiatives such as this one resonate with Evergreen's vision of creating a sustainable society where people and businesses can live in harmony with, and contribute meaningfully, to their local environment."
Abner Lico from Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots added: "We're thrilled to be working with Starbucks on engaging youth in environmental issues through their Shared Planet program and are very supportive of their further commitment to reducing their footprint with this LEED pilot."
Source: http://www.starbucks.com/