Whole Foods built a LEED certified store in Sarasota, Florida in 2005 that included these prominent features, among others:
1) a rainwater harvesting system, 2) recycled materials throughout, 3) a building R-value that surpassed the minimum standard, 4) a high-tech, reflective roof system, 5) skylights for natural daylighting, and high performance mechanical and electrical systems. That store earned Whole Foods praise from Rick Fedrizzi, president of the U.S. Green Building Council. So why not Lakewood and why not now? Lakewood should lead the greening of the City of Dallas. We have so many green assets like White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum, and, yes, a responsible green corporate citizen in Whole Foods. Let’s make this happen by collaborative thinking and innovation. The national “buzz” alone for sustainable neighborhood development and urban communities should be a big motivation to all publics involved to work together.