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Known for their office products and the popular "Easy" button, Staples has taken their brand to a different level - EcoEasy.
Staples Inc. currently stands as the world's largest office supply retail chain, with over 1,962 stores throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. The company generated more than $23 billion in revenues (period ending January 2009) and has over 57,000 employees.
One of their newest stores located at 2121 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami, FL was developed by Michael Katz and Bill Biondi with MK Real Estate Group. It was their vision, in conjunction with the City of Miami [Office of Sustainable Initiatives] and Staples Inc., to create the first LEED certified retail building and help Miami to become a city for sustainable living through eco-friendly practices. The City has had great interest in developing green buildings as part of their Miami 21 initiatives, which is a comprehensive master plan designed to revamp their zoning codes in order to create a more commuter-friendly city - one with greater economic vitality and quality of life. In return the development team was able to utilize the City's support with permits being expedited and certain construction lags avoided. For Staples, the project fell in line with their EcoEasy Campaign, which is their personal commitment to promoting sustainable business practices. This was the first of many green stores that Staples hope to build.
It was important to all parties involved that the store be constructed under the requirements of one of the LEED rating system. After careful planning the store went ahead with the goal of obtaining LEED Gold under the LEED Core & Shell 2.0 knowing it would yield the most optimal building performance and achieve the highest number of credits. With a major firm like Staples taking a step in the right direction toward greener initiatives, it is believed that many others will soon follow.
What are some of the technologies and design strategies implemented into the project? They are:
Improving energy performance and reducing heat island effect through the use of a highly reflective roofing system. Energy Cap SBS 30 FR made by GAF Materials Corporation, North America's largest residential and commercial roofing manufacturer, was used for the store's roof. This strong and fire resistant roofing membrane is highly reflective deflecting the sun's rays back into the atmosphere keeping the roof cooler and helping the HVAC system operate more efficiently. Overhangs are strategically placed along the west facing windows and entrance as well as the south facing entrance to reduce the solar gain from the sun while providing ample natural daylight.
The store is also saving water by capturing rainwater through a gutter system and storing it in an above ground cistern. The debris from the collection is filtered and the water is used to irrigate the native plants, trees, and shrubs (Live Oak, Buttonwood, Caribbean Petunias, Sabal Palms, and others) on site in addition to flushing the low flow toilets. What's most surprising is that the cistern also collects an estimated 100 gallons per day of air conditioning condensate. That is 100 milk jugs of usable water for a 20,000 square feet building.
The low flow toilets use about 1.0 gallon per flush (of rainwater) compared to 1.6 gallons per flush (potable water) in a conventional toilet. (The low flow design helps reduce potable water usage in cases when municipal water supply is used and the rainwater source is turned off due to low levels in the cistern.)
Another method in saving potable water was using waterless urinals instead of the conventional systems. Standard urinals use up to 1.0 gallon per flush of potable water each time. Just having two standard urinals in a building can amount to over 50,000 gallons of water each year depending on the number of uses. That is a lot of precious water being withdrawn from the Florida aquifers just for two urinals.
The waterless urinals have a trap containing a "green" natural based sealant which is less dense than liquid waste. Liquid waste passes through the sealant into the trap and the sealant creates a barrier between the waste and urinal bowls. The waterless urinals still require routine maintenance during the day, because like the conventional urinals the surfaces of the bowls become odorous. But considering the fact that conventional urinals also require routine maintenance throughout the day it makes more sense using waterless urinals, since thousands of gallons of potable water will be saved lessening the strain on municipal water supply.
Potable water is still needed for the sinks and showers, of course, so a connection to the potable water source is available. During long periods of drought, which is common in South Florida, a mechanism called a float switch in the cistern detects water level and switches to the potable water source if the harvested water is low. And if there is too much rain, rain water is drained through the cistern's overflow onto a basin and finally to the underground aquifers.
The store earned LEED points by protecting the environment through conservation of natural resources and by diverting construction waste from landfills. Virgin non-renewable materials were preserved by constructing the building using recycled materials. Drywall, steel, concrete, bathroom partitions, even the parking stops were of recycled materials. During construction 85% of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill through the implementation of a waste management plan where all metal products, drywall, railings, structural steel, rebar, gypsum board, and aluminum window frames were hauled to recycling plants. Southern Waste Services provided the service.
Reducing carbon footprint was also an important initiative for Staples. Customers with hybrid cars are given preferred parking spaces (closet to the entrance) and employees are encouraged to use alternative transportation. In order to achieve Alternative Transportation credits (points) under the LEED rating system, the store has to be located within a 1/2 mile to a light rail and a 1/4 mile to two bus lines. Additional Alternative Transportation credits were achieved by installing bike racks and constructing a changing facility with a shower for their staff. Bicycling produces no emissions, lessens the demand for parking, relieves traffic congestion, is healthier, and promotes urbanism.
Employees will also benefit from working in a healthier environment. Paints, sealants, adhesives, coatings, carpet, and other building materials used were low emitting - meaning they contained a small amount or no volatile organic compound (VOC). VOC is used as a solvent in paints, sealants, and coatings in addition to increasing a carpet's durability. Studies have shown productivity increasing anywhere from 3 - 16% in a 'green' workplace. The green environment helps increase morale, thereby lowering labor costs through reduced absenteeism and increased overall retention. In addition, it helps reduce liability commonly associated with an unhealthy work area brought on by poor ventilation, toxic materials, and improperly stored cleaning products.
Staples earned LEED Gold under the LEED Core & Shell 2.0 rating system. This recognizable achievement demonstrates the commitment and dedication to helping preserve our planet. But what else is Staples doing? They are using their expansive presence and well known name to set a new standard for other companies to follow. They acknowledge that their employees are important and deserve a healthy environment to work in. For their customers they recognize the need for an easy change, therefore making readily available recycled products. What we all get is...one step closer to a cleaner and greener earth. ¦PGR¦
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Staples
