Future Shop takes major green step with first LEED certified store in Alberta

BURNABY, BC, April 27 /CNW/ - Future Shop, Canada's largest retailer and etailer of consumer electronics, is taking another green step forward by announcing its first store certified as Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED). The South Edmonton Common Future Shop in Edmonton, AB recently received this designation for a host of leading green features throughout its largest retail centre.

"We had an environmentally conscious building in mind when we starting planning the constructing our flagship South Edmonton Common Future Shop in 2008," said Grant McTaggart, Vice President of Administration, Future Shop. "We're committed to applying principles of sustainability into the construction of new stores as well as making improvements to our existing locations."

A variety of sustainability attributes are housed within 53,000 sq. ft. of the South Edmonton Common Future Shop store, including:

    
    -  More than 50 per cent of all construction material used to build the
       store was from recycled goods.
    -  About 28 per cent of the total construction material used recycled
       content.
    -  Thirty-eight per cent of building materials were extracted and
       manufactured within 800 kms of the store.
    -  Use of low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) off-gas emitting carpets,
       paints and adhesives
    

Additionally, the building design and computer systems allow the store to use over 39 per cent less energy than the Model National Energy Code for building standards, such as zoned controlled air-conditioning and lighting systems.

"To have our largest and most innovative store receive LEED certification is a great accomplishment," said Todd Empey, Vice President of Operations, Future Shop. "This designation reinforces our commitment to improving the sustainability throughout our operations. It also showcases the positive steps we're taking in the communities where we live and work."

The LEED designation of the Edmonton South Common Future Shop comes just weeks after the company announced its consumer electronics recycling program in all Future Shop locations in Alberta, except Grande Prairie. Dubbed "Electronics Take Back," residents can safely retire items, such as TVs, computers and peripherals, desktop printers and monitors.

For more information about Future Shop's commitment to sustainability, visit www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration.

About Future Shop

With 144 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. The company employs more than 10,000 technology enthusiasts and has enabled its website, Futureshop.ca, to deliver unparalleled content about the products it sells. Futureshop.ca also hosts an online community forum and tech blog for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (www.futureshopforums.ca). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop has developed solutions to recycle used electronics and is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profit organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (see www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration).

For further information: Media contact: Elliott Chun, Future Shop, [email protected], [phone]