"Green building" is an environmentally responsible approach to design and construction that optimizes the energy efficiency of a structure, reduces its environmental impacts, and when done well, results in buildings that have lower operating costs and are more comfortable and healthier to be in.

As REI's growth leads to more retail stores, distribution centers and other facilities we realize that not only would our cost of operations increase, it would be increasingly difficult to meet our environmental commitments. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions or managing our waste stream. The result has been to make green building a priority so that we can minimize impacts and reduce measures such as our average energy usage per square foot.

REI has been at the forefront of green building. In 1993, we began designing and constructing our Seattle flagship store, which opened three years later. Our process started with community and member involvement, which helped identify and prioritize the "green design" elements developed for the store. Many of these features became part of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)evaluation criteria.

Since 1996 we've built on the work done for our Seattle store and enhanced the use of green design elements in all of our new store construction projects.

In 2004, our Portland, Ore., location became the first retail store in the country to earn LEED-Commercial Interior (CI)® Gold. In 2006, our Pittsburgh store earned LEED-CI Silver certification.

In support of our commitment to green building, we established goals in two areas:

• Using the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
• Energy Efficiency

To learn more about REI's future plans in green building, click here.

Why do we build "green?" We have four key objectives:

• Enhance the retail experience for customers and employees:We want our stores - as well our distribution center and headquarters - to be inviting and pleasant environments. Green building techniques such as natural lighting and better air quality are important contributors to the experience for members, visitors and employees.
• Reduce the cost of ownership:Although some aspects of green building can initially be more expensive, over time the reduced cost of operations and maintenance (i.e., lower energy bills) delivers financial rewards. Green building is not only the right thing to do, it's good for our business as well.
• Minimize our environmental footprint:Green building incorporates recycled materials, conserves precious resources such as energy and water, and reduces waste - all of which help minimize our environmental impact.
• Align the store experience with the co-op's values:We want our buildings to reflect our commitment to stewardship and meet the expectation of our members for REI to be environmentally responsible.