Today is Earth Day, which coincides with the grand opening celebration of the State's greenest grocery store, located not in Marin, but nearby Petaluma. Raley's new market has achieved a gold level Green Chill rating from the EPA, and has has advanced design features that allow it to use less refrigerant, electricity and water than typical supermarkets.
In Marin County, there are a couple of green retail projects worth mentioning. First prize goes to Hamilton Marketplace, which has several green innovations, including 2,000 square feet of solar panels, providing power for the common areas and parking lots, and estimated to save 31 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Northgate Mall's redevelopment is also designed with the environment in mind: "It's a whole new Northgate - the environmentally-friendly redesign will feel fresh, modern, and right for Marin County's discerning shopper." Northgate owner Macerich, which also owns The Village at Corte Madera, is targeting LEED certification for the project, and provides highlights of other sustainability initiatives on its corporate website.
Home Depot is giving away one free energy-efficient light CFL light bulb and a faucet aerator to each customer. Just don't drive to the store, otherwise it'll be somewhat counterproductive.
A special mention for Stefano's Pizzeria, which is still the only place to get a solar-powered pizza in the County.
And finally Proof Lab in Mill Valley, where you can buy skateboard wheels made from recycled ecothanes. As the blurb says, it's a "breakthrough in skateboarding sustainability".
