OAKLAND PARK, Fla. - A new Ashley Furniture HomeStore by South Florida licensee City Furniture here is being built to achieve U.S. Green Building Council construction standards.
The 25,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open in early 2013. It is being built to achieve the USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification.
More than 90% of the store's lighting will be energy-conserving bulbs. An all-concrete parking lot will absorb less heat than a conventional asphalt lot.
"The store's upscale finishes, lighting and displays will catch consumers' attention, but they're less likely to notice the high-performing features of the building itself," said Harley Miller, president of Miller Construction, which is building the store.
The store is incorporating conservation and energy measures like regionally sourced materials, and is recycling 75% of construction waste.
It is also being built to the loss prevention engineering standards of property insurance giant FM Global, another company whose standards are beyond code requirements, the release said.
Officials with City Furniture said the company plans to realize cost savings through the building measures.
City is building or renovating five stores to achieve LEED certification. Stores include features like super-high-efficiency air conditioning systems and reflective roof coating.
