Supermarket News reported yesterday that Wal-Mart is incorporating experimental green design elements in a new superstore that it is building in McKinney, Texas.
While the company failed to provide further Supermarket New with further details, the story reports that Wal-Mart states that it “will incorporate experiments from 21 companies involving new equipment and technology on the inside and outside, including the use of wind energy, solar energy, irrigation systems, bioswale and wetland areas, a rainwater harvesting pond, storm water collection system, xeriscaping, a wildflower meadow, drip irrigation system, a state-of-the-art HVAC system and more.”
Let’s hope this turns out to be more than corporate positioning. And who knows, maybe if the big boys at Sam’s think green building makes sense, maybe health benefits for Wal-Mart workers might be next.