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  • Writer's pictureJamie Leeper

Sustainability within Retail Facilities

Updated: Mar 25, 2019



Royal Services minimizes environmental impact by using sustainable resources whenever possible
Royal Services minimizes environmental impact by using sustainable resources whenever possible

At Royal Services, when we talk about "Going Green" we don't mean like the City Of Chicago does every March 17th! With the ever increasing demand for use of sustainable energy, an increase in the popularity of "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle", and environmental activists campaigning for stricter regulations, we have witnessed the emergence of a new market.

 
Our Responsibilities

Environmental sustainability has become increasingly prominent over the past decade due to the efforts of organizations such as the USGBC, the EPA, and Greenpeace. We are seeing increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, appliances and devices becoming more and more energy efficient by the day, and more recycling efforts at the local level.

In our line of business there are so many opportunities to make a difference in the environment around us. Everyday we are performing jobs around the country where we can make a difference to society as well as the local environment. It might be the installation of a new technology such as an Energy Management System from Schneider Electric, which means a company's energy consumption will be significantly reduced. It might be the disposal of old fixtures which are donated to a local charity, instead of being burned or thrown into a landfill site. These events provide great opportunities to truly make a difference, but unfortunately some companies decide to take the easy option, which has a significantly negative impact on the surrounding environment.

A large piece of what we do involves high velocity national rollout projects. Many retailers will make frequent changes to their store layouts, and we are the project management company who oversees this process from design to completion. It's not uncommon for several of these events to occur within the same store over the course of a year. This obviously keeps the store looking modern and appealing to customers, but generates a significant amount of waste with redundant fixtures, building materials, carpet, vinyl planking, and cat5 cabling all needing to be removed and disposed of upon completion.

At Royal Services we include waste removal in the design phase of the project to ensure that we reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible. One such example of reducing our carbon footprint is with an ongoing national rollout project involving the removal of display cases from over 1000 stores within a 5 week time frame. At the end of the project we will have removed well over 5000 units in total, which if put into dumpsters and dumped in the traditional manner would cause a significant negative impact on the local ecosystems.

To protect the environment throughout this project, we have connected with Goodwill Stores around the country, and arranged for these items to be dropped off where they can be used in the store, or can be sold to generate income to provide job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs. This is a social and environmental win, and is something that we strive for on all of our projects.

What Royal is doing

The following are examples of recent jobs and office processes where we have minimized the environmental impact through a variety of strategies:


(1) T8's replaced by LED systems

Significant reduction in energy usage, and correct disposal of the tubing. This is the most common Capital Expenditure project that we have witnessed over the past 18 months. The installation is extremely simple, the new lighting is more impactful from a merchandising perspective, and the ROI is very competitive.

(2) Refresh projects

Correct disposal of paint and other contaminants that could negatively impact local ecosystems.

(3) Undercarpet power installs

This technology requires no trenching and consequently no building waste is created. It can easily be relocated meaning less waste, and lower expenses for the retail store. Also, under carpet power installation means fixtures can easily be relocated without the need to have new units built, thus minimizing the waste going into landfill sites.

(4) Energy Management Systems

These systems increase the efficiency of buildings by conserving energy when unoccupied.

(5) Recycling of office waste

We recycle approximately 1100 gallons of waste each month! We also recycle boxes, packages and other materials from our project sites when possible.

(6) Reusing office shipping boxes

Saves the environment and reduces our expenses!

(7) Recent office improvements

Include the installation of internal and external LED lighting, bathroom remodels that included the introduction of low-flush toilets, motion activated lights, and WaterSense sink faucets.

(8) New energy source

Installation of solar panels at our headquarters. We anticipate this being completed by the end of Q3 this year.

Our Value Proposition

Win, win, win

If you are looking for a national rollout company who are going to provide you with triple bottom line improvements, then look no further. Our strategic approach and integrated facilities solutions will benefit your people with less disruption and a healthier work environment. You will be lowering your carbon footprint by reducing, reusing and recycling throughout the project, you will save money, and best of all you get to work with our awesome team at Royal Services! You can't ask for more than that!

Green Projects

Contact us today to find out more about how we are "going green in 2018" and incorporating sustainability habits into all of our projects! If you are interested in connecting with our team to discuss ways in which your operations can become more environmentally sustainable, we would love to hear from you. Reach out to me today on 913-717-3188 or email me at jleeper@RoyalSolves.com.

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