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Project

REI Round Rock Store Employs the Sun (Texas, USA)

Credits: ©2009 REI

The REI Round Rock store has an exceptionally efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and building envelope, more than 80 percent reduction of construction waste, green building education program and rooftop solar panel installation. Mounting on the green building success of its previous stores, including one in Boulder, Colorado, this second generation of green prototype store in Round Rock, Texas, is projected to consume 48% less energy than a typical store and generate a portion of its power from a solar panel installation and building integrated photovoltaics.

 

Round Rock REI Store Exterior

System Size: 17.0 kW Year Installed: 2008 ©2009 REI

This store generates about eight percent of its own electricity. The solar hot water system provides most of the domestic water for sinks and employee showers. After that, Round Rock relies on Solatubes to displace a portion of artificial lighting; the roof is dotted with a hundred Solatubes that funnel sunlight down into the store. An automated system coordinates the electric lighting levels with the amount of sunlight inside, dimming or turning off lights to save energy and costs. The store also purchases green power generated from biomass digesters.

This second gen green store was built with highly efficient building insulation, efficient mechanical equipment and controls, a cool roof designed to reflect the sun's heat, and water-efficient plumbing that reduces water usage by 30 percent.

Designed in partnership with Gensler, Round Rock incorporates extensive sustainable and recycled materials, including sunflower seed husks, recycled aluminum, recycled tires and recycled tennis shoes. These products have found their way into flooring, countertops and the footwear wall. Carpeting underfoot was created from reclaimed fibers and manufactured with a climate-neutral process. Stromberg manufactured the Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) panels that serve as the cladding for this retail location.

The Round Rock roof sports a “cool roof” that reflects solar radiation and lowers ambient rooftop temperatures to reduce heat island effect. State-of-the-art ventilation units automatically adjust energy consumption based on shifting demand, reducing energy use by 25 percent.

The store’s mezzanine level is a community center – a source for local outdoor event and recreational information, volunteer opportunities, classes and other resources for outdoor adventure. The center’s table is topped with reclaimed elm made from fallen trees.

Alternative, two-wheeled transportation is encouraged by providing bike racks for everyone, as well as shower facilities for employees.

It's the second company store to be built under the USGBC's LEED Retail pilot program.

After studying both the Boulder and this store, REI will use the research for a third prototype and for application in other stores nationwide.

REI was founded in 1938 by mountaineering enthusiasts who wanted to have access to the best equipment on the market. To this day, REI is not a publicly traded company, but a consumer cooperative. In 2005, their annual sales topped $1 billion with more than 8,000 employees and locations in 27 states. The company has been among Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” every year since 1998.

REI specializes in the supplying the nature-lover’s lifestyle, a bold-living mentality focused through fitness and outdoor living. To promote this concept, REI committed to “green building” technology when planning its opening of a retail location in Round Rock, Texas.

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