Commercial

Walgreens Net Zero Store: Evanston, IL

Seventy-six percent of americans live within five miles of a Walgreens store. With such a large footprint, the corporation decided that creating a net zero store was the next logical step to reduce its impact on the environment and to save on energy costs.

Lincoln Heritage Public Library Chrisney Branch: Chrisney, IN

The small town of Chrisney, Ind., turned to net zero to overcome financial hurdles and realize the residents’ dream of building a library. The town lost its high school in the 1970s and then its highway due to an expansion and rerouting, and hoped a library would stem the tide of decline. For five years, the small, simple library has served as a source of pride for this shrinking town, providing a resource for information and a community gathering place while producing more electricity than it consumes.