Walgreens Opens the Nation’s First LEED Registered Drugstore in Mira Mesa, Calif.

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, will celebrate today the grand opening of the first drugstore nationwide to meet top environmental requirements for efficiency and design. The new store in Mira Mesa, Calif., is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards – a certification only granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Walgreens officials and guests will mark the grand opening of this eco-drugstore with a tree planting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by a host of activities and earth-friendly product giveaways for the local community. A $5,000 donation also will be made to the Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego chapter. The non-profit environmental group aims to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through education, conservation and research.

“We are proud to showcase our commitment to the environment here in the San Diego area, a region recognized for its sustainability efforts,” said Walgreens market vice president Matt Sesto. “Walgreens is making great progress on our environmental initiatives in stores chainwide. We’re cutting our electricity and water usage, recycling tons of cardboard and shrink wrap each year and upgrading equipment for maximum efficiency.”

The Mira Mesa Walgreens offers reserved parking for hybrid vehicles. It also offers bike racks and is located close to public transportation. Inside, skylights and solar tubes allow the sun to light 75 percent of the store. Coolers, freezers and exterior signs all use LED lights, reducing energy use by 50 percent over fluorescent lighting. The store will save enough electricity to power 19.3 homes per year. In addition, the use of native and adaptive plant species will eliminate water usage for landscaping, and 95 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills and recycled.

“Signage posted inside the store will inform customers about the features that make this location unique,” said Sesto. “We want people to feel good about shopping here and maybe even be inspired to live greener lives.”

Walgreens opened its first store in Southern California more than 15 years ago and now has 19 locations in San Diego County. This is the company’s first Mira Mesa location. Another nine Walgreens stores are planned to open in the area by the end of 2011.

“We welcome Walgreens to the community and look forward to working with them on community events,\" said Mira Mesa Town Council president Jeff Stevens.

The Mira Mesa Walgreens is registered under the LEED Green Building Rating System. It will be reviewed by the USGBC and given a specific level of certification in four to six months.

Walgreens plans to open its next LEED registered store in Chicago this fall, with two more locations to follow by the end of the year. The company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint also include the use of solar panel systems on 63 of its locations in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Oregon. For more information on Walgreens green efforts and commitment to corporate social responsibility, visit www.walgreens.com/responsibility.