Raymour & Flanigan: A sustainable business culture

Plastic Ceiling Panels It will become the model for more green-compliant stores that thecompany will build in the future. The highly insulated Energy Star facility’s energy-savingfeatures include special glass that helps control heat transferand lower energy costs; white reflective roof membranes to reflectultraviolet gains from sunlight and keep roofs cooler; and aload-shedding energy management system that reduces energy demandbased on peak energy. The company has begun employing similar systems in other storesacross its seven-state footprint. Energy Star buildings meet strict energy efficiency guidelines setby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Departmentof Energy. “Securing the approval rating requires a significantcommitment of company resources beginning with design premise,construction methodology and engineering modeling,” saidRousell. Rousell said the company also is beginning to extend green effortsto some of its construction methodology, partnering with materialcompanies that use post-consumer recycled content, from carpet toceiling tiles. The company also has begun tackling power consumption. Across mostNew York locations, it is using renewable energy. Starting inJanuary, Juice Energy began helping Raymour & Flanigan manageits electricity budget with custom renewable power strategies. The green power purchase takes the form of Green-e certifiedrenewal energy credits generated at wind facilities across theUnited States and saves more than 800 tons of greenhouse gasemissions per year. The company is purchasing 10% of its energy in New York state fromrenewable sources and has established itself as an EPA Green Powerpartner. “It was a conscious effort to avoid an increase in utilityrates and get rid of ever-increasing market rate utility costs bybuying green power,” Rousell said about the program. The retailer’s energy-management system enables it to bettercontrol usage during non-operating hours. “We’re continuing on the low-hanging fruit right now.As the fruit continues to get higher up the tree, to extend ourgreen initiatives, we must increase efforts across the organizationaccordingly,” Rousell said.