What can be done in existing retail home furnishings stores to move toward sustainability?
Illuminating Retail by Monte Lee Retailers place great emphasis on sustainability in new construction projects. J C Penny Co., for example, opened its first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified store In August.1 It is designed to consume 41 percent less energy compared to a conventional store. Beyond lower operating costs, certified retailers like Penny, Office Depot, Walmart, and others, earn the loyalty of environmentally conscious shoppers. Sustainability is also an evaluation criterion on Wall Street and often a prerequisite for construction loans. But what can be done in an existing store to move toward sustainability? Lighting is a relatively easy area to reduce operating costs and we have discussed that topic.2 But lowering operating costs is not the only objective of sustainable lighting. Lets take a look at what sustainable lighting is, whether LEDs are a magic solution, and what can be done to achieve sustainable lighting in existing buildings. Susta
