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We’re Green!
Electric Conservation
Leader’s Casual Furniture has been using daylight harvesting since 1995.
We currently utilize daylight harvesting throughout our 150,000 sq ft campus to cut back on electricity used for lighting, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
Utilizing massive skylights in the 57 foot high ceiling, the multi-level “runway” lights are automatically turned off every day by 8:30 AM when the Sun’s rays become bright enough to more than adequately light the heavy traffic work area.
There is an electric order picker for almost every row in the distribution center reducing travel times and lowering the demand for electricity during our charging cycle every evening.
The electric order pickers also release no harmful emissions into the environment unlike gas and diesel motor units.
All of the lighting in the distribution center is upgraded pulse start electronic ballast metal halide fixtures, reducing start up demand for power every time the lighting system is turned on.
In addition to having more efficient pulse start fixtures all of the fixtures on the storage rows are
dual level.
When a row is not being occupied, the fixtures reduce their light output to a lower level, reducing their energy demand by over 50%.
This same technology was taken a step further in our new 50,000 sq ft addition that opened the first quarter of 2008.
The light fixtures in the new space are completely independent of one another and are only on full power while someone is actively working under each unique lighting zone.
This will eliminate fixtures four or five lights deeper in the row from going to full power for no reason, further reducing Leader’s demand for electricity produced from fossil fuels.
On the shipping docks where brighter color corrected bulbs are required Leader’s Casual Furniture uses high output low energy consumption T8 fixtures with electronic ballasts.
These give more than adequate color accurate light to ensure the highest quality inspection to review our product with a fraction of the cost of traditional fluorescent fixtures.
Furthermore the lighting system over the shipping docks is divided into zones.
If a zone is not being worked, the lights are switched off to save even more electricity.
It gets over 90 degrees in the summer time!
Instead of running expensive A/C systems to help our warehouse team members stay cool in the hot
Florida summer we utilize evaporative cooling systems.
With very minimal water consumption these highly efficient fans can reduce the air exiting up to 14 degrees by taking advantage of the properties of water as it evaporates.
This air cooling is done with almost no energy consumption compared to an air conditioning compressor unit.
In addition, company culture is to turn off all lightning that is not needed everywhere… every day.
Lights in reception areas with large glass windows are always turned off when not needed.
Unnecessary showroom lighting and air conditioning is turned off every night.
Even in the break rooms, where natural lighting is abundant, the ceiling fluorescents are turned off most of the time.
Air conditioner thermostats are kept no lower than 77 degrees in the offices and it is very rare that heat is needed in the Florida climate.
Air conditioning and lighting in all showrooms and warehouse areas are totally powered off during non-operating hours.
In order to monitor and insure that “green” energy conservation policies are being followed by each branch manager, all water and power bills are graphed and analyzed.
Any irregularities are communicated to the responsible parties until the problem is resolved.
Packaging Recycling
All of the cardboard and paper packaging materials received in our distribution center is sorted, compacted, and then picked up and recycled several times a week.
Any boxes that can be reused are utilized to ship product out to our customers.
This reduces our dependence on paper products manufactured from natural resources.
When a delivery is sent on one of our fleet trucks, it is not boxed and wrapped with paper products.
We use reusable linen packing blankets to cut back on the waste we produce that would go to landfills.
Deliveries/ Fuel Conservation
All Leaders' product is delivered on our own fleet, using computer aided routing to help the drivers reach all of the customers in the most efficient manner possible.
All of our longer range deliveries that ride on our semis are guided by live GPS to help the drivers efficiently navigate around traffic and other obstructions ensuring the most direct route to the consumer using the least amount of fossil fuel.
By the end of 2009 we will have Alternative Power Units (APUs) installed on our over the road semis to drastically reduce the carbon output and fossil fuel used while our trucks are at idle.
The unit will allow the drivers to maintain a comfortable environment with a/c, heat, and accessories while at a delivery stop or on overnight time off without excessive idling of the 500+ Horse Power diesel engines.
This will also prolong the life of the lubricating oil in the engines reducing the frequency of their change.
Product
Our rattan, a product found naturally in the forests of the tropical Pacific, comes from replanted government controlled sources in
Indonesia and the
Philippines.
The rattan is harvested from national forests or off of plantations that grow agricultural crops such as coco.
As the rattan is harvested from these sources it is replanted at a faster rate than it is harvested ensuring quality sustainable material for generations.
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