While flooring is our passion, increasing your productivity is our focus. From the initial consultation through completion, our expertise ensures your store openings and roll-outs are successful and virtually stress free.
storefloors™ specializes in protecting your brand and executing your design vision. From the sourcing and selection of your flooring, to estimating, ordering, tracking, managing inventory and ensuring on-time delivery – we make sure your project gets done right while saving you time and money.
Get the flooring solutions you have been looking for and discover the storefloors™ experience.
What is sustainability?
According the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of sustainable is:
- capable of being sustained
- of, relating to or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
The Brundtland Commission Report of 1987, from the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), titled Our Common Future, offers the most widely adopted definition of Sustainable Development and states… “as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Read More…
The following definitions are more specific:
- "Sustainable means using methods, systems and materials that won't deplete resources or harm natural cycles" (Rosenbaum, 1993).
- Sustainability "identifies a concept and attitude in development that looks at a site's natural land, water, and energy resources as integral aspects of the development" (Vieira,1993).
- "Sustainability integrates natural systems with human patterns and celebrates continuity, uniqueness and placemaking" (Early, 1993).
Earl Wasserman, CEO of storefloors™, suggests that perhaps the most global definition of sustainability is viewed as a way of life that minimizes the impact or effects on generations to come.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The initiative by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which has a direct impact on the harvesting of wood flooring materials, “was established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.” “Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.” Many wood flooring manufacturers promote the FSC certification of their products as part of their green initiative.
The Lacey Act protects our forests by prohibiting the import or export of timber that has been illegally harvested.
LEED
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is “a non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.” According to the USGBC, “Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.” Read More…
The USGBC created LEED which translates to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is an internationally recognized certification system of green buildings. It is the national “benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.”
Who uses LEED? “Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the built environment to sustainability.” Even flooring manufacturers need to be aware of LEED certification rating systems in order to offer materials that will meet the growing market demand of building owners, managers and designers to achieve a desired LEED rating.
LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations Project Checklist
Shown are the Major Categories and Corresponding Points Towards Certification:
| Sustainable Sites | 26 Possible Points |
| Water Efficiency | 10 Possible Points |
| Energy and Atmosphere | 35 Possible Points |
| Materials and Resources | 14 Possible Points |
| Indoor Environmental Quality | 15 Possible Points |
| Innovation in Design | 6 Possible Points |
| Regional Priority | 4 Possible Points |
LEED 2009 Certifications for New Construction and Major Renovations
100 base points; 6 possible Innovation in Design and 4 Regional Priority points
Certified 40–49 points
Silver 50–59 points
Gold 60–79 points
Platinum 80 points and above
The Materials and Resources Category of the LEED 2009 Certifications from the above list is broken down into seven categories which receive points towards LEED certification:
MR Prerequisite 1: Storage and Collection of Recyclables
MR Credit 1.1: Building Reuse—Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof
MR Credit 1.2: Building Reuse—Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements
MR Credit 2: Construction Waste Management
MR Credit 3: Materials Reuse
MR Credit 4: Recycled Content
MR Credit 5: Regional Materials
MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials
MR Credit 7: Certified Wood
storefloors™ and Sustainability
At storefloors™, we have become experts at disseminating the interpretive intent of sustainability as well as sourcing the “sustainable floor coverings” that meet the required design intent. As sustainability is defined by so many characteristics, it can be difficult for the flooring buyer to navigate through the numerous brand certifications and labels. It seems that most products available now are communicating some type of “green” label, even if it’s one the manufacturer created to market their products. Read More…
Just as the recycling movement started some decades ago has become part of our culture today, the sustainability movement will follow suit. In just a few years, we won’t be making choices between green and otherwise. Simply, all our options will be environmentally appropriate. Meanwhile, storefloors™ will work to provide our clients the education, expertise, products, and finally, the assurance that the flooring they select truly meets the specifications of their sustainability program. In addition to flooring selection, storefloors™ can assist you with reclamation and recycling of existing floor coverings. We can recommend products that contribute to or comply with LEED certification credits and support our customers’ sustainability mission, while maintaining their design intent. If you would like more information or would like to discuss green flooring options, contact us.
storefloors™ and its employees realize the importance of protecting our environment and acting responsibly to conserve our natural resources. We are committed to making a positive impact. Outdated or unused flooring samples are either returned to the manufacturer for recirculation or donated to local design schools where the materials are used for student projects. Only green non-toxic cleaning products are used in our offices. Conservation of energy, water, and paper are common practice, as is recycling. storefloors™ employees are known to actively use mass transit and relocate to minimize environmental impact and commute time. At storefloors™, being green is a team effort.