Off the grid: Walgreens opens self-powered pharmacy of the future

It’s been said that sunshine is the best disinfectant, but might it also be good medicine? Walgreens is betting on it with the opening of its solar-powered drugstore of the future — America’s first dedicated retail space that generates all of the energy it needs to operate on-site.

Built just north of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, the new “net zero” energy store is a sort of test bed for developing sustainable strategies that could power new drugstores going forward. To capture adequate energy — the store needs around 200,000 kWh each year — designers combined myriad different technologies. Among them are solar panels and wind turbines, as well as the use of geothermal energy and LED lighting.

The store will serve as an educational platform as well as a promotional tool — Walgreens has put major emphasis on making their eco-friendly status both visible and informative. All around this eco-flagship store there are placards describing the store’s environmentally friendly features, and curious shoppers can take tours to see some of the high-tech geothermal efforts. The location of the store is in close proximity to both the Walgreens headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois as well as the Northwestern University campus, making it accessible as a learning tool for people from both places. “It’s a proof of concept and a pilot. It’s also our living learning lab. Everything in the store is monitored so that we can learn from it,” says Walgreens' manager of engineering, Jason Robins.

So what does a net zero store of the future look like?

The store features large windows to allow in natural light, and white paint to let that light diffuse through the building. All of the artificial lighting is provided by LED, meaning the electricity requirement is much lower than it would be with typical fluorescent lights.
While the sun gives the store nearly all the energy it needs, two 35-foot-tall wind turbines outside offer a little extra energy. Store designers had originally intended to make more use of the wind, but discovered that amount of solar energy they would be able to get exceeded initial expectations. The turbines now supply around 10 percent of the store’s needs.
Inside, a television serves to display the energy statistics of the building and how they compare to the store’s goal of generating enough electricity to meet all energy needs.
The store roof is covered in 850 solar panels, which will supply Walgreens with most of the electricity it needs. The officials at Walgreens estimate that between 95 and 100 percent of their energy needs will be met by the solar panels atop the store’s distinctive, multilayered roof, sloped towards the south in order to get more direct sunlight. (Walgreens)
Even the sign is solar powered. And as an additional eco-friendly measure, landscaping is comprised of species native to the area, meaning these plants require only rainwater without additional watering to flourish.
Several Walgreens officials and dignitaries, including the mayor of Evanston, Elizabeth Tisdahl, cut a ribbon using novelty-sized scissors.
The geothermal pipes tap 550 feet into the ground below for a constant temperature source — about 53 degrees Fahrenheit. These pipes can be tapped in the summer for cooling or the winter for heating.
The geothermal piping, as well as heating and cooling pipes, are displayed in a room overlooking the store. The geothermal pipes are integrated with the heating and cooling systems, which reduce overall power consumption.
There are two parking spots reserved for electric vehicles. Walgreens was making use of the charging station with its own security car, a Nissan Leaf.
The beauty section of the store features distinctive, blade-shaped LED light fixtures. The plastic blades contain micro-optics that redirect the light to shine on the shelves rather than the floor.
The store prominently displays a kiosk for dropping off old batteries of various chemistries — alkaline, nickel-metal hydride, and lithium. It is rare to see anyone willing to recycle alkaline batteries — even Duracell recommends you simply throw them in the trash.