Bellevue PCC is our third store to pursue Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal Certification, which is reflected inside and out. It’s easily accessible by way of low-carbon transportation methods; illustrates the strength of our community through an awe-inspiring art installation; and even uses reclaimed materials from other PCC locations.
All wood used is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified. Our work excluding toxic chemicals from all building components was unprecedented in the grocery industry — some components had to be modified or custom designed because toxic-free options were not readily available.
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Designed to maximize the use of natural light when possible, Bellevue PCC depends less on electricity during daylight hours. Where natural light is insufficient, we use light emitting diode (LED) fixtures, which consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent fixtures.
Our in-store chefs and kitchen staff use ENERGY STAR Certified equipment wherever possible — our steam cookers use 60% less energy than standard models. Doors installed on refrigerated cases reduce energy use by up to 65%.
Our refrigeration system uses CO2, a natural refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) thousands of times lower than that of commonly used synthetic refrigerants. Heat released from the system is reclaimed and recycled, and used to heat the rest of the building and produce hot water for the store.
Compared to standard models, our steam cookers use 90% less water and our dishwashers use 40% less water. We selected faucets that use 60% less water than standard faucets to achieve the same water pressure.
Bellevue PCC is surrounded by a variety of shops, restaurants, residential areas and public transit, making it easily accessible by foot, bike, bus and eventually rail. If you’re driving, you’ll find plug-in stations for electric vehicles in the building’s parking garage.
The International Living Future Institute’s habitat exchange program aggregates funds to protect large tracts of contiguous, high-value ecosystems, maximizing the impact of each contribution. PCC contributed funds to protect, in perpetuity, an area of land equivalent to Bellevue PCC’s building footprint.
