New Seasons Markets

When it comes to energy use, grocery stores have traditionally been the hungriest of energy hogs. How else can you chill the ice cream, bake the bread and light the shopping aisles? But a growing number of new and renovated supermarkets are emerging leaner and more efficient than ever before.

In Portland, the local grocery chain New Seasons Markets has found success with customers and employees alike by building stores that are healthier and more pleasant to be inside, and technologically advanced to use less energy.

"One of our core values at New Seasons Market is building sustainability throughout our company," says president Lisa Sedlar. "We try to incorporate as many sustainable building materials as we can."

Whenever possible, the company prefers to renovate existing buildings instead of using all the resources necessary for a new structure. New Seasons' Seven Corners store in Portland was transformed from a decrepit old grocery store on the same site. "We had to do some gymnastics to be able to keep it," recalls Susan Rudloff of Richard Brown Architects, the store's designer. The company's Cedar Hills store in Beaverton was actually renovated from what had been a skating rink. "You can still see the curve of the old rink on the floor. People have fun with it. And that's very intentional."

Inside, New Seasons is immediately distinct from familiar grocery store chains. Skylights and exterior windows fill the store with natural light, which studies show encourages shoppers to linger because it's a more pleasant, healthful environment.

To minimize energy usage, New Seasons stores are outfitted with heat recovery systems that use excess heat from refrigeration systems. Light fixtures are tied to photo sensors that shut off the lights when skylights are providing enough illumination.

The Seven Corners store and some others in the New Seasons chain also feature a creative, people-friendly way to minimize the wasted energy of constantly opening and closing doors (which make costlier harder to cool in summer and warm in winter). At the front of the store is a vestibule where fresh flowers and produce are sold, helping to provide not just a smart transition that buffers the interior environment of the store, but also to better integrate the building with the surrounding community.

New Seasons has also been aggressive and artful in treating rainwater. "Our Arbor Lodge store has a green roof and a bioswale that helps keep millions of gallons of rainwater from entering our sewer system," Sedlar continues. "Our bioswales include a sculptural element designed by a local artist which not only draws attention to the issue of rainwater management, but also builds community by featuring a local artist. We often hear our customers talking about our bioswale artwork."