Commercial, Distributed Generation, Solar  -  March 17, 2022

Target Tests First Net Zero Energy Store

Target Corporation announced its most sustainable store in California, which will operate and serve as a test store for multiple innovations to reduce the building's emissions. 

The Vista, California, store's retrofit will generate renewable energy through 3,420 solar panels across its roof and newly installed carport canopies. The location is expected to produce up to a 10% energy surplus each year that it can transmit back to the local power grid.

The building also features elements to further reduce emissions, such as powering its HVAC heating through rooftop solar panels, instead of natural gas. The store also switched to carbon dioxide refrigeration, a natural refrigerant, that Target will scale chain-wide by 2040 to reduce its direct operations' emissions by 20%.

"We've been working for years at Target to shift toward sourcing more renewable energy and further reducing our carbon footprint, and our Vista store's retrofit is the next step in our sustainability journey and a glimpse of the future we're working toward," said John Conlin, senior vice president of properties, Target in a statement. "Our new stores and remodel programs are designed to help achieve our sustainability goals as we test, learn and scale our innovations over time across our operations."

Click here to Go Behind the Scenes at Target's First Net Zero Energy Store. 

Target has committed to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions enterprise-wide by 2040  and since 2017 Target has already reduced its direct operations' emissions by nearly 27%. One of the ways it intends to reach its net zero goal is through sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources for its operations by 2030.

The retailer’s offsite solar and wind energy contracts are helping the company move quickly toward its renewable energy goal, as it has secured additional partnerships that will allow it to purchase nearly half of its electricity from renewable sources later this year. Target also conserves 10% of its stores' total energy use by using LED lighting instead of conventional lighting.

Target continues to prioritize the use of solar with over 25% of its facilities that have rooftop solar panels.

Read These Related Articles:

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• Target adds three new RE projects to cover 25% of electricity use
• Target achieves 500 rooftop solar projects ahead of schedule
• McDonald’s, Target, Walgreens honored by DOE
• Target makes 100% RE, emissions reduction commitments

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