AUSTIN, TX - Office Depot has just announced the opening of its first "Green" store, located in Austin, TX. The grand opening event, complete with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, was attended by Office Depot executives, state dignitaries, City of Austin Mayor Will Wynn, representatives from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and local environmental organisations. Office Depot's "Green" store has been pre-certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards by the USGBC. The store will use less water and energy during its daily operations and increase recycling efforts to diminish the size of its "overall environmental footprint".
"The City of Austin is the birthplace of the USGBC and a leader in our nation's fight against climate change," said City of Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "We are proud that Office Depot chose to select Austin as the site of its green retail prototype. We think what they are doing shows real leadership - and paves the path for more retailers to invest in green building."
To date, Office Depot is the only office supply store franchise participating in the USGBC's esteemed Retail Volume Certification Portfolio Program, a "pilot group formed to help retailers achieve LEED-Certification at numerous locations and to facilitate the certification process for a company's prototype". Office Depot is also the first company to have its store prototype pre-certified by the USGBC's LEED for New Construction Volume Certification Program.
"We are looking forward to taking care of business for our Austin customers at our first pre-certified 'Green' store," said Chuck Rubin, President of North American Retail for Office Depot. "Not only can customers choose from thousands of greener office products within Office Depot's industry-leading assortment but they will also have a better understanding of why a particular product is green and how they can make sustainable products a part of their home office or business environment."
Source: Green News