Ithaca, NY, July 19, 2011- Environmentally conscious Ithaca consumers will be pleased to hear that the city is now home to a LEED®-certified green grocery store. MaineSource TM has received the distinction of LEED Silver Certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. MaineSource is the first grocery store in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region to achieve this.
“As the first LEED-Certified grocery store in the region, MaineSource has set a standard for other retailers to follow,” said Tracie Hall, Executive Director of the USGBC NY Upstate Chapter.
“Being green is more than a trend; it’s a value that Maines strives to put into action through innovative, eco-conscious programs and initiatives,” explained Christopher Mellon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc. “MaineSource is committed to making green-minded decisions and seeking out green products, services, and programs like LEED.”
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design and construction of high performance green buildings. To become LEED-certified, MaineSource was required to adhere to strict standards, incorporating several green features that positively impact the broader community. Some of these include:
• Water Efficiency – The building uses 42% less water than a conventional building.
• Regional Materials – More than 47% of the materials used were manufactured and harvested within a 500-mile radius from the site. This helps support the local economy and reduces transportation costs and other negative environmental impacts.
• Waste Management – More than 60% of the existing site/building demolition and construction waste was recycled, reducing landfill waste.
• Energy Performance – The building uses 29% less energy than a conventional building of its type.
• Recycled Materials – More than 21% of the products used in construction contain recycled materials.
In addition to the new construction, MaineSource is working to be green in other aspects of their business, in all six of their stores.
“While we will always aim to be competitively priced and provide the best possible service, we’re aware that customers are becoming more eco-conscious and want to be offered sustainable options, too,” said Steve Ross, Vice President of MaineSource. “People want to support businesses that support the environment. And that’s a good thing.”
Beyond the green building design, MaineSource is switching over to green cleaning chemicals, installing high efficiency lighting and refrigeration systems, and offering discounts for those who buy reusable bags. “Those little things add up and can have a significant impact,” Ross explained.
Some of the sustainable products MaineSource offers include natural meats, wild-caught frozen and fresh seafood, recycled and biodegradable paper products, and many ethical fair-trade products like coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, and bananas.
MaineSource is located at 100 Commercial Ave. For more information, visit them on the web at www.mainesource.net/.
About MaineSource™
MaineSource operates six stores, serving Upstate NY and Northern Pennsylvania. MaineSource is the retail division of Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc., one of the largest independent foodservice distributors in the country. A third generation, family owned business, Maines has a 90-year history of helping restaurant owners and managers maximize the performance of their restaurants and foodservice operations and helping them quickly adapt and profit from changing marketplace conditions. Their customized distribution process and many other consultative services result in lowering costs and improving profitability for their customers. In addition to the broadline and customized foodservice divisions, Maines offers chemical and beverage equipment sales, installs and service through ServiSolutions; all of the day-to-day and highly specialized produce needs through Maines’ Produce Express; internet based recruiting and hiring services through WyckWyre (wyckwyre.com); internet based restaurant operational tools (labor scheduling and management, inventory management and point-of-sale analytical tools) through WhenToManage (whentomanage.com); and restaurant consultative services through its consulting division Restaurant Results, Inc. Maines has a revenue base in excess of $3 billion and their services are provided by more than 2,000 highly motivated associates serving their customers from eleven distribution centers with coverage in 33 states.
For more information about Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc., please visit maines.net
