Visual Merchandising and Store Design | VMSD.com

Designers and architects offer their views on the nuances of green design, favorite innovations and the prize worth keeping our eyes on.

Pedal Pusher
Todd Taylor, director of design, Darden Restaurants Inc.

Does one bike rack equal an eco-friendly company policy? Well, why not? To make a difference, you have to start somewhere. Sustainability begins with the simplest and often smallest change. A single bike rack represents a step onto the field of play. Providing the reminder, no matter how simple, may be enough to change someone’s habit of driving to work every day. The bike rack represents not just an eco-friendly company policy, but the symbol of the first step toward a sustainable future.

Smart Before Sexy
Vanan Muregesan, mechanical engineer, Store Design Services, a subsidiary of SuperValu

To be successful, the concept of sustainability must not only benefit the environment, but also the retailer’s bottom line. Unfortunately, in the rush to sustainability, some retailers invest in green practices that may adversely impact their business – especially in their flagship “spare-no-expense” green stores. For instance, LED lighting is the product du jour among retailers keen on sustainability. While it’s a fantastic solution for certain applications, like refrigerated cases, it may not be the right solution for every aspect of a store. Should an owner install LED lighting exclusively in one high-profile store or invest in efficient T-8 lighting or intelligent lighting controls in multiple stores?
Eventually, the phrase “green design” may disappear, and what will remain is smart design. My suggestion is to exercise common sense when practicing green design – stick to what’s proven and beware of the hype.

Behold the Humble Skylight
David Birnbaum, LEED AP, architect, design development, Chute Gerdeman

I feel the modern skylight is the single greatest innovation for creating green store design. Skylights in one form or another have been used for years, but using them in a retail environment can reap many benefits. Products and their packaging look better under natural light, which makes merchandise more attractive to customers.

Studies have shown that people shop more under daylight, as well. During daytime, when a store is supplemented by natural light, light fixtures can be fitted with sensors that will automatically turn them off or down, reducing power consumption. Less lighting means less heat load, which brings down the store’s cooling costs and may allow for smaller, less-expensive HVAC components. Some of the more technologically advanced skylights can rotate to track the sun and maximize the amount of lighting into the store.

Then and Now
Nancy Everhart, LEED AP, studio principal, Little