Walgreens Net Zero Store – Evanston

The Walgreens Company, a global retail pharmacy brand with over 8,000 stores, set out with a vision to create a showcase for innovative, sustainable, high-performance design. They wanted to do this at a retail location without altering the characteristics of the building to make it as highly scalable as possible. The outcome of this effort was the world’s first Net Zero retail store in Evanston, IL that opened in November 2013.

To reach its net zero goals, the store has photovoltaic panels on the roof for energy generation. Additionally, the building’s envelope, lighting, HVAC, and refrigeration systems were designed to significantly minimize annual energy consumption.

The store is expected to achieve net-zero energy use by the U.S. Department of Energy’s most stringent standard (building footprint) at 200,000 kWh consumed and 240,000 kWh produced. Engineers are continuing to fine-tune sequences and operational strategies of systems to maximize efficiency towards meeting the goal of reaching net zero energy use.

Walgreens Net Zero Store has also earned USGBC LEED Platinum certification, as well as Green Globes and Living Building Challenge certifications.

Cyclone Energy Group was the energy consultant for the project, providing conceptual-level planning, energy modeling, system commissioning, and in-operation building measurement & verification.

For this project, Cyclone Energy Group was honored to receive First Place in the New Commercial Building category by the prestigious ASHRAE Technology Awards Program in January 2016. Through this program, ASHRAE recognizes organizations who have successfully applied innovative building design towards occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and energy conservation.