When the new Harris Teeter in Crozet opens May 6, not only will Crozetites have a fancy new grocery store, they’ll have one of the greenest ones in the country. The national chain, which has 180 stores, decided to locate its first LEED certified store in Crozet. Over 30 percent of the construction materials were made within 500 miles of Crozet, 82 percent of the construction waste was recycled, and 50 percent of the wood used on the project came from sustainable forests. In addition to recycling centers in the lobby, the 42,000-square-foot store be lit with skylights, have environmentally friendly fridge and freezer systems, and be 25 percent more energy efficient than your average grocery store.

Photo by Jim Duncan