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Lakewinds Natural Foods received the Environmental Excellence Award from the City of Chanhassen, presented by Mayor Tom Furlong, for its commitment to sustainable practices, storewide recycling and its recent installation of solar panels at the store.

The award was presented on December 11 during the City of Chanhassen's council meeting. "We were pleased to recognize Lakewinds for the ways it has integrated conservation-friendly practices into the store," said Furlong. "Our Environmental Excellence Awards are designed not only to recognize achievements such as Lakewinds', but also to encourage others to look for ways in which they can conserve and reuse our resources."

Lakewinds' Chanhassen location was built using eco-friendly materials, including non-toxic paint and flooring. Last August, Lakewinds installed 57 solar panels on its rooftop. The panels produce more than 12,000 kilowatts per year. Lakewinds General Manager Kris Nelson expects the solar electric system to offset about 10-20 percent of the electric bill, depending on the store's total power consumption.

Since their installation in August, the solar panels have stopped the production of more than 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. The store also uses heat from refrigeration compressors for pre-heating the hot water heater and warming the building.