Staples to build first eco-friendly store
September
2007 — Miami (FL): Staples is strengthening its environmental efforts
by breaking ground on Miami’s first green retail building later this
week.
The
retailer is working alongside the City of Miami and MK Real Estate
Group on the new store, which will be the first eco-friendly retail
building in its chain.MK Real Estate Group is building the Biscayne
Boulevard store in compliance with the US Green Building Council’s
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiative. It
hopes the building will achieve LEED silver certification standards, a
voluntary independent green building rating system. Buildings meeting
the criteria minimise negative environmental impacts and maximise
energy efficiency and sustainability.
Royce Reed, regional VP of
sales and operations for Staples stores in South Florida, said:
“Staples is committed to sustainable business practices throughout our
organization, and we make it easy for customers to make a difference
for the environment – what we call EcoEasy. Sustainable building design
helps us conserve natural resources, reduce waste and create a
healthier environment for our local communities. It’s also good, smart
business. When completed, the 2121 Biscayne Staples will make it easy
for customers to get the office products and services they need,
including many eco-friendly products and recycling offerings.”The
store’s design will have improved energy performance by installing a
highly reflective roofing system to help ‘heat island effect’, which
contributes to higher city temperatures. The design also aims to reduce
the strain on municipal water and Florida aquifer reserves by
collecting rainwater through rooftop gutter systems and installing
waterless urinals as well as low-flow toilets.Tom Hicks, VP of LEED at
the US Green Building Council, said: “It’s wonderful to see a company
like Staples making a commitment to green building. Green buildings are
environmentally responsible, healthier for the building’s users and
employees and are more profitable structures.”