The store, which opened in March, is one of 17 in the nation that uses solar panels and other eco-friendly technology. Five more locations are scheduled to include the same treatment. By completing the eco-friendly projects by Dec. 31, corporations are given a tax equity advantage by the federal government, the New York Times reported Aug. 10.
Murphysboro Wal-Mart Store Manager Kim Busby said the ceiling has multiple large skylights to allow natural light to enter the store. Busby said sensors located above the fluorescent lights dim them when natural light is abundant.
Busby said the store would require little to no unnatural lighting on sunny days. The changes are expected to save the store about 30 percent on total lighting costs.
Along with skylights, newly built Wal-Marts include several energy and labor efficient fixtures in their stores, Busby said. The new fixtures include flooring material that is virtually maintenance-free. The floor is made from a special composite that allows for no waxing or buffing.
A new air conditioning system recycles cool air rather than drawing new warm air from outside, she said. When carbon monoxide levels reach a certain point, the unit automatically cycles new air into the building. Recycling cool air drastically decreases the cost of cooling, she said.
Busby said she is proud of the steps her corporation is taking toward saving money, making operations easier and decreasing negative effects on the environment.
"Wal-Mart has been an industry leader," Busby said. "I haven't seen anything that any other company is doing."
Justin Harrell, electrical engineer for the Plant and Service Operations at SIUC, said the changes made to new and future Wal-Marts are well beyond what the Illinois Energy Conservation Code mandates.
The latest code, signed in 2004, provides that all new construction and renovations follow a basic energy conservation policy, said Harrell. Heating and cooling, building design and lighting requirements are all regulated by the code.
According to the code, certain commercial buildings must install sensors or timers that automatically dim or turn off lighting in unoccupied areas such as empty public restrooms. Wal-Mart's new building design takes this technology a step further and uses it building-wide.
"I think it's a great idea for them to try to conserve energy wherever they can. There are certain things that are required by code and this dimming is above and beyond that," said Harrell.
The high cost of improvements may hinder stores from making changes to go "green," Harrell said. Specially designed electrical ballasts, which control the amount of energy used by a light fixture, are more expensive than their alternatives. Installing and programming systems with sensors and timers is also costly.
Several Wal-Mart customers said they appreciate a large corporation taking active steps to save energy. The overall savings in operating costs will help keep prices low and reduce harm to the environment, said Maya Collum, a senior from Ava studying fashion design.
"For a huge business like Wal-Mart to actually try to go 'green,' it's kind of neat," said Collum. "If a lot of other companies did the same thing it would be a lot better."
Justin Lange can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 258 or jlange@siu.edu
