Starbucks' Green-Building Plans

In an aggressive build-on from its recycled paper cups and fair trade coffee beans, Starbucks announced new plans to continue in its quest to go green, not just in its logo. 

Last week, the company announced plans to seek LEED certification on all new company-owned stores beginning in 2010.  

Part of that move includes sourcing materials and employing craftspeople on a more localized basis, as well as incorporating reused and recycled elements where possible in both store-design and supplies. 
In addition, the coffee giant noted other “green” goals: 

-Derive 50 percent of the energy used in company-operated stores from renewable sources by 2010.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making company-operated stores 25 percent more energy efficient by 2010.

-Ensure 100 percent of cup supply will be reusable or recyclable by 2015.

-Make recycling available in company-operated stores where Starbucks controls waste collection by 2015. 

-Replace incandescent light bulbs inside stores with LED bulbs to reduce energy use and boost cost savings. 

-Place signage throughout new and renovated stores to point out green design and construction elements.

Starbucks has already rolled out some of these changes in its three most recently completed new-build stores, all of which are registered to be LEED certified.  The 1st Avenue & Pike Street store in Seattle near the original store in Pike Place Market features repurposed fallen trees made into cabinets, and the columns, floor and ceiling from existing buildings were reused for the store.  At the Paris Disney Village store, which opened in mid-June, a custom-built, ventilation system uses natural convection-exhausting heat that rises through a titanium-paneled tower, which they say reduces energy use.  

And, in late June, Starbucks said it had planned to reopen a renovated store in University Village, Seattle, which also features a significant amount of reclaimed material for interior design purposes.  

Being a Seattle-based company that’s not shy about letting the world know about its “green” and sustainable activities, regarding this news about LEED, one may think, what took you so long, Starbucks? In fact, what’s taking everyone so long? McDonald’s and other chains have jumped on board with registering new stores to be LEED certified, but the process is just now taking off.  That’s sort of understandable, though, seeing as the LEED-certification process is not only a timely one, but a costly endeavor too.  

Scott Shippey, construction manager for Chipotle, said during an interview for  FE&S’ February issue feature article on Water Conservation that it can be a lengthy process to get the first one to two stores LEED certified.  But, he says, once you do a couple, the USGBC is good about letting chains use those models as “cookie cutters” for a larger-scale rollout.  “The first time through, we underestimated how much work it would be, but after you go through LEED once, you learn so much and have so many tools in place that when you apply it again, it becomes that much easier,” he said in the article. 

The LEED certification process also has the potential to get lengthier and a little more complex, especially now that the USGBC unveiled LEED 2009 and its new LEED for Retail program which contain a substantial number of changes, updates and additions to its previous set of guidelines.  

According to Suzanne Painter-Supplee, director of consulting services for Champion Industries, projects that already began before LEED 2009 rolled out have the option to upgrade to the Version 3 status.  That can be a good thing because it shows a higher level of energy and building efficiencies and sustainability practices, but it can also pose a greater challenge, too, she said during a speaking session on the topic. That’s because the new LEED guidelines are much stricter regarding energy- and other resource-use for stand-alone foodservice operations, or even just buildings with commercial kitchens in them. 

Still, the fact that Starbucks has made such a bold statement – to make all of its new stores LEED-certified – represents exactly what the acronym stands for: leadership.  And when strong leaders abound, many others follow.