REI’s Second Green Prototype Store
For Immediate Release
Megan Behrbaum
REI Public Affairs
253-437-7736, office;
206-540-5738, pgr
mbehrba@rei.com
Seattle, WA, September 26, 2008 — Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, opens its second prototype store that will test green building features, including next generation technology and environmentally friendly materials. New retail design concepts are also being tested and evaluated.
Located in Round Rock, Texas, the store is built from the ground up and projected to consume 48 percent less energy than other stores that meet industry standards. As part of ths initiative, findings from the working laboratory will help REI determine how it approaches green building design, and construction.
“The green building practices incorporated into our Round Rock store help us to dramatically reduce our energy consumption, save natural resources and provide a better experience for employees, co-op members and customers,” said Sally Jewell, REI president and CEO. “This store will not only have reduced operating costs, but we’ve significantly reduced our dependency on fossil fuels.”
The new store’s appearance will differ significantly from traditional designs because of the incorporation of recycled and sustainable materials. Sunflower seed husks, recycled tennis shoes, carpeting manufactured through a climate-neutral process, and reclaimed wood from fallen trees are incorporated throughout the store. Summary details of REI Round Rock’s green building features are available at: http://www.rei.com/greenbuilding/roundrock