The company showcases its longstanding environmental commitment through new products and program achievements
Herman Miller will share a growing portfolio of sustainable new products and technologies at the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Greenbuild Expo in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center from November 15-17. The products underscore the company's long history of innovative design and its leadership in environmental stewardship for more than 50 years.
"This year marks the largest product introduction in the company's history and we're excited that each item was designed and developed to reflect our commitment to sustainability," says Paul Murray, Herman Miller's Director of Environmental Health and Safety. "Herman Miller is also a founding member of the USGBC and every year we look forward to sharing our product and program achievements with this audience."
Herman Miller's environmental accomplishments are framed in the context of the company's ambitious Perfect Vision initiative. Launched in 2004, Perfect Vision is the plan by which the company is seeking to become a 100 percent sustainable company by the year 2020.
The plan outlines a commitment to the reduction of air emissions, water emissions and hazardous waste. In addition, the company will increase the range of its Design for the Environment protocol--a method that emphasizes the safety of a product's material chemistry, the percentage of its recycled content, the recyclability of its parts, and the ease of disassembly. It is also committed to growing its usage of green energy and developing its building projects to meet a LEED Silver rating or higher.
Sustainable Products and Technologies
Winner of the Best of Competition Award at NeoCon 2006, My Studio Environments is an innovative concept in open-plan workspace design. Designed by Douglas Ball, it is a user-centered solution featuring elements that enhance physical and psychological well-being and instill a personal sense of ownership. The system contains 28 percent recycled content, is 74 percent recyclable.
Ball's second design introduced this year, Vivo Interiors, is a frame-and-tile system that offers a clean, fresh aesthetic at a compelling price. In Vivo, Ball reveals crisp edges for a straight, well-defined appearance, while its trim pieces interlock for exceptional alignment and fit. A horizontal bead defines the tiles and reflects light, providing added visual interest. It contains 37.5 recycled content and is 70.8 percent recyclable.
Both My Studio and Vivo are the first office systems to be developed according to Herman Miller's Design for the Environment protocol, inspired by the McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) Cradle to Cradle philosophy. Additionally, both systems are Greenguard certified.
The company will also display the new Leaf personal light, designed by Yves Behar and his San Francisco-based design firm, fuseproject. Leaf's 20 LEDs (light emitting diodes) create an interactive experience, allowing control of both the color and intensity of illumination. With the touch of a finger, Leaf emits a warm, ambient glow or a cool, blue effect.
Its proprietary heat dissipation system coupled with the energy efficiency of LED technology also makes Leaf a smart choice for the home or office environment. It too was designed according to Herman Miller's Design for the Environment protocol and is Greenguard certified. It contains 37 percent recycled content, is 95 percent recyclable and utilizes 40 percent less energy than compact fluorescent lighting.
Greenbuild 2006 also marks the company's launch of an important and entirely new technology and business. Convia / A Herman Miller Company, will occupy a third of the Herman Miller display, demonstrating its modular, programmable building infrastructure system that promises to change the way power and data are delivered, accessed, and reconfigured in buildings. The Convia system offers dramatic cost savings and operating efficiencies as compared to traditional building wiring, while enabling unmatched ease and flexibility for change and reconfiguration. Convia also enhances the effective use of energy reducing devices, controls, and sensors and will make their adoption a more compelling option in new and existing buildings.
Sustainable Energy at Herman Miller
Herman Miller has completed its latest purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) which now provide for 28 percent of the company's total electricity demand. The RECs are composed of 50 percent wind power and 50 percent biomass, and are also Green-e certified. They are distributed both to the company's office and manufacturing sites, including its subsidiary, Geiger International, located in Atlanta, Georgia.
"The recent purchase of RECs brings us substantially closer to achieving our Perfect Vision goals," adds Murray. "We intend to allocate our purchase to ensure that all of our seating products are designed, manufactured and shipped using 100 percent renewable electricity."
Sustainable Buildings
Three Herman Miller building projects received LEED-CI certification this year, furthering the company's commitment to developing its facilities to meet a LEED Silver rating or higher. Its Dallas National Design Center (NDC) received a Silver rating, the Toronto NDC received a Certified rating, and the New York NDC achieved Gold status, becoming the first LEED-CI Gold facility in New York City. In total, the company has nine LEED-certified facilities.
In addition, Herman Miller's VillageGreen facility, located in Chippenham, England, received the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent status--the European equivalent of LEED certification. The recently completed facility houses the company's European headquarters.
The Future of Sustainability at Herman Miller
Herman Miller is continually seeking ways to further its commitment to full sustainability. Over 400 employees are actively engaged in the pursuit of environmental initiatives, yet all those in the Herman Miller corporate community are encouraged to contribute to creating a cleaner environment through their daily work, mentoring or volunteerism.
"Perfect Vision charts a challenging course, but we've made tremendous strides in only two years," says Brian Walker, President and CEO of Herman Miller, Inc. "These accomplishments demonstrate that Herman Miller makes choices everyday that further our commitment to sustainability. These choices enable us to be a better corporate citizen within our industry and community."
Herman Miller designs products and services that enhance the performance of people and their environments worldwide, making life more productive, rewarding, intelligent, and delightful. The company's award-winning products and services generated over $1.7 billion in revenue during fiscal 2006. Recognized for both its innovative designs and business practices, Herman Miller is a recipient of the prestigious National Design Award for product design from the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. In 2006, the company was again cited by Fortune magazine as the "Most Admired" company in its industry and was included among Business Ethics magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." The company trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.
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