The Convenience Leaders Vision Group, a forum of convenience industry leaders that gathers to discuss industry best practices, looked at sustainability in convenience store design as part of its most recent quarterly meeting.
A new report from the group unpacks a presentation by James Owens, vice president of retail architecture, and Aksel Solberg, development design studio lead, both from HFA Architecture and Engineering, on practical solutions for sustainable construction practices including cost-effective strategies while enhancing operational efficiency.
The presenters stressed that “sustainability is not a trend, but it’s really a strategic imperative and an opportunity for leadership to show innovation.” They discussed legislative and regulatory mandates for sustainability, certifications that retailers can obtain for their store, including LEED and Energy Star, and solutions for every stage of a construction project and material selection.
“The discussion emphasized the balance between sustainability and return on investment, weighing the ROI of sustainability efforts and the potential for long-term gains through energy savings and incentives. Additionally, there was a consensus on the importance of honest communication and the risks associated with greenwashing,” wrote the group.
Main topics of the report include:
- Sustainability in convenience store design.
- Balancing the investment in sustainability vs. ROI.
- The 80/20 rule for cost-effectiveness and customer opinion.
- Telling the sustainability story and greenwashing.
Read the full report here.