RAPAPORT... I actually had a customer sit me down and ask me point-by-point how many green things we do. I didn’t realize how important it was to the customer,” recalled Chris Graham, the owner of Graham Jewelers in Wayzata, Minnesota. Graham Jewelers is a client of GRID 3 International, a retail design firm that chooses environmentally friendly options whenever possible.
RETAIL’S IMPACT“U.S. buildings contribute more to the world’s greenhouse gasses than any other country except China. Seventy percent of our electricity is consumed by commercial buildings, and that includes retail. Anything that we can do to lessen our impact saves us personally and helps our country. So it’s a doubly good thing,” explained Ruth Mellergaard, principal of GRID 3 International, at a recent seminar. Mellergaard specified that a truly sustainable “green” environment satisfies people, planet and profits.
Starting a green program is not all that difficult, according to Rudolph E. Milian, the senior staff vice president for professional development services of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). In his book, The Retail Green Agenda, he goes on to say, “Most companies are already implementing green tactics without realizing it.”
This certainly proved true for a few of GRID 3’s clients. When RDR contacted two jewelry store owners about their “green” carpets and sustainably harvested wood veneers, they weren’t aware that those products were environmentally friendly. They had simply felt that the items were available at a reasonable price.
“Companies with no green strategy are leaving money on the table, as being green often means doing simple things like conserving water, energy and other resources that have high costs associated with them — and wasted energy means wasted money,” wrote Milian.
LIGHTINGWhatever the reason a retailer might decide to reduce its environmental footprint, Mellergaard recommends beginning with small steps. Calling lighting one of the more “obvious” ways to reduce emissions, Mellergaard reviewed the many options in the marketplace.
The incandescent floodlight called the reflector lamp, or “R” lamp, “should no longer be made,” Mellergaard declared. Designed to act as general overhead lighting, these commonly used bulbs fit into recessed downlight fixtures. She described the light as “completely unfocused,” and explained that it uses high wattage and contributes a lot of heat. As an alternative, Mellergaard instructed store owners to opt for cooler, watt-saving Philips MasterColor Integrated 25-watt PAR 38 Ceramic Metal Halide bulbs, which fit into the same fixtures.
Another bulb often found in retail stores is the tungsten halogen. They have long been the darling of jewelers for their beautiful color and focused light. But they are not very energy efficient.
“I don’t think they will disappear completely, but I do think we will be using fewer and fewer of them. Metal halide is a good replacement because it is white and sparkling and it uses a lot less energy,” Mellergaard commented.
“LED has been touted as the answer to all of our problems,” Mellergaard observed. Though the light won’t work directly above jewelry because it lacks sparkle, she says LED light rails have been used successfully in showcases, in wallcases and under counters because they use less energy, throw off less heat and have a long life compared to tungsten halogen and even fluorescent light rails.
Mellergaard also acknowledged the benefits of natural light from skylights for those fortunate enough to be in a one-story building. At least one study backs her up. In 1999 and 2003, a study for the California Energy Commission by Heschong Mahone Group, Inc. (HMG) called “Daylight and Retail Sales” examined the effects of daylight in an unnamed chain of stores utilizing skylights.
In a practice called daylighting, the stores’ skylights were equipped with sensors to detect existing natural light. Electronic lights were automatically turned up whenever daylight decreased so shoppers noticed no change at sunset or when clouds rolled in.
Not only did this approach generate significant energy savings, but after controlling for variables such as the size and age of the store, the amount of parking and demographics, the study showed that increased daylit hours were strongly associated with increased sales, compared to nondaylit stores.
SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLEBusinesses don’t need to spend exorbitant amounts to “go green,” Mellergaard stated, pointing out that there are options that are both earth-friendly and competitively priced. Moreover, she explained, just introducing a few of those choices can make a big difference. “If you are renovating or redesigning and you use one or two products that are environmentally friendly, it will help all of us,” she advised. Below are some of Mellergaard’s favorite suppliers.
• When you place an order for Koroseal wallcoverings, Koroseal will take back any company’s fabric-backed wallcovering and recycle it — even if there is drywall dust on it.
• Both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore offer paints that emit zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — the toxic soup of chemicals that have been linked to short- and long-term health effects.
• TOLI International manufactures vinyl flooring that uses recycled content.
• CERES wood flooring is sourced from sustainably
managed forests.
• Stone Source Trend Q tile is a modern take on terrazzo tile that is made with post-industrial chips.
• InterfaceFLOR sells environmentally sound commercial-quality carpet tile.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - March 2009. To subscribe click here.