Nation’s first ‘green’ 7-Eleven opens in DeLand

By Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 28, 2010 - 7:52:35am

The nation’s first green 7-Eleven opened Feb. 24 in Downtown DeLand.

The 3,000-square-foot store at 319 N. Woodland Blvd. is stocked with the usual milk, beer and candy, but the excitement on opening day was directed at the store’s green features, like LED lighting and water heated by warm air drawn from the drink coolers.

The store has applied for Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Structures earn points toward LEED certification by incorporating sustainability, water efficiency, energy efficiency and air-quality protection into their design, and by using eco-friendly materials.

Landlord Bill Scovell pronounced the concept “fantastic.”

The new 7-Eleven sits across Ohio Avenue from Stetson University’s Lynn Business Center, Florida’s first LEED-certified building.

Joan Peck, manager of the new store, has been with 7-Eleven for four years. She currently lives in Ormond Beach, but will move to DeLand in the near future, and said she is excited to be managing the first green 7-Eleven.

City Commissioner Leigh Matusick said the store will not compete with Downtown DeLand merchants, but should help them, by drawing more people to the area.

Matusick said people who live near Downtown have had to drive to a grocery to buy a gallon of milk if they ran out, but now will be able to head to Downtown DeLand instead.

Building the store took 80 days; it was completed well ahead of schedule. Clyde Naylor, project manager for Dalco Construction, said the city was wonderful to work with.

7-Eleven Construction Manager Jonathan Pauls said the new store will save the company money while it saves energy.

The LED lighting, for example, will cost less to operate.

“It’s super-efficient; it’s bright; it’s safe,” Pauls said.

Also, 7-Eleven won’t pay for the store’s hot water.

Heat removed from the store coolers usually would be released through the roof. In this store, it will be captured and used to heat water.

“We have free hot water forever,” Pauls said. “As long as we’re in business.”

He said materials for building the store all came from the Central Florida region. “So it’s good for the economy, too.”

The City of DeLand building permit lists the store’s construction cost at $385,444. The company hopes to reclaim through savings any extra money spent to make the building more Earth-friendly.

“We expect it to pay back in three years or less,” Pauls said.

The DeLand store is a prototype, and will be closely monitored for the next two years.

“Then we’ll take the best elements from this store, and use them in other stores,” Pauls said.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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