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Corporate Relocation
Saves Big By Going Green
Article by Amy Bauman
Innovation
Valley (IValley.org)
August 2008 Innovation Valley
column that John co-authors is by guest writer Amy Bauman, Project
Manager for greenGoat,
and company working with contractors, architects and building
owners to fully realize the value of outgoing building materials
(through salvage and recycling). |
 In the
middle of its biggest year yet, non-profit greenGoat sets its
sights on the largest waste stream it can imagine: corporate
relocation. In a recent collaboration with Cubellis, CBD Companies,
Office Environments of NE, and Genzyme, 28 tons of office furniture
was kept from landfill. The project reworked and relocated Cubellis’
65 cubicles to Genzyme’s new offices in Framingham, where
they will be used in “swing space” accommodating workers
while offices are being finished.
In its history, greenGoat has
saved 189 tons of materials in our recovery programs, but to
save 28 tons in a single project is significant. Many of those
tons have flowed through the company’s warehouse located
in Lawrence, but greenGoat tries to “pre-place” as
much material as possible. In this case, the extra deep Steel
Case work surfaces used by Cubellis for almost a decade, was
exactly what Genzyme needed.
Cynthia Donnelly, Senior Planner
for bio-tech giant Genzyme didn’t hesitate a moment when
asked what the motivation was to buy used furniture: expanding
Genzyme’s green legacy. An added bonus: the firm got a better
quality product than the one they normally specify… at half
the price.
Steel Case furniture was removed
from Cubellis, then cut to fit the new space at Genzyme by CBD
Companies, a furniture refurbisher contacted by greenGoat. Jeff
Lawson, founder, was happy with the finished product, and sees
opportunity ahead for similar companies hoping to save money
while upgrading to a better product. “I used to see myself
as Robin Hood … taking furniture from high end companies
and selling it to small to midsized clients. The market is changing,
though, and Genzyme is a great example of savvy corporations
finding new ways to operate sustainably,” Lawson says, as
he plans to expand his operations while building a plant this
year in Canton, MA.
Each firm in the project saw
the value in the recovery. Noted Steve Leone, AIA, LEED AP, Principal,
and Director of Sustainable Design at Cubellis, “this is
a most simple and clear example of sustainable market transformation.
“Forward thinking companies searching for synergies and
partnerships to reduce waste and energy while finding higher
quality products at lower costs is what it’s all about.
It’s a beautiful solution that required only a little more
research and thought. For us at Cubellis exploring these strategies
is one of many ways to act sustainably as a firm and reinforce
our sustainable mission. greenGoat was a great partner in making
that happen!” Cubellis cut the moving and disposal costs
for the systems furniture by more than half.
Donnelly sees the same picture,
noting that they will consider used furniture more seriously
in the future. Adds Donnelly, “if you want it back in a
few years, let us know.”
For more information, contact
greenGoat, thegoat@greengoat.org,
http://www.greengoat.org.
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