Expansion Management

If My Building is Carbon Neutral Will I Get More Customers?

May 7, 2010

That's the question that OFM , a manufacturer of office and school furniture, seems to have asked before deciding to install a 250-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on the roof of its main building in Holly Springs, N.C.

"Today, customers want to know they are working with businesses that are environmentally responsible," said Abel Zalcberg, CEO of OFM. "We already do everything we can to make sure that our products are environmentally friendly, but we haven't been able to say that about the energy we use at our headquarters until now."

The photovoltaic system, which will be completed by the end of this year, will generate 322,500 kilowatts of electricity per year. This is more energy than the company can use so it will sell the remainder to Progress Energy.

OFM is not alone in trying to become more environmentally conscious. According to The U.S. Green Building Council there are 35,000 projects by companies and other institutions which are participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems. This encompasses over 4.5 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries.

To get more information and see case studies about the ROI that some of these companies received click here

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

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Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.