April 30, 2010—Herman Miller, Inc. is celebrating Earth Day 2010 with the early achievement of one of its key 2020 Perfect Vision goals, that of utilizing 100 percent green energy for its worldwide operations. The company’s Perfect Vision initiative includes a set of environmental goals that target a zero operational footprint by the year 2020. Beginning May 1, 2010, the company will join only a few organizations worldwide that utilize 100 percent green energy, a feat primarily made possible by its employees according to Herman Miller.
Examples of energy saving ideas submitted by employees include utilizing sensors and timers for electrical devices, shutting off electrical devices when not in use, adjusting building temperature at certain times of the day, and changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Herman Miller, a U.S. EPA Green Power Partner, will primarily utilize Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), followed by Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), to achieve its 100 percent green energy goal. A REC guarantees that the renewable energy is harnessed from resources such as sunlight, wind or water flow and placed into the electrical grid.
A PPA is a contract between an energy generator such as a wind farm and an energy user. In some cases, the company utilizes local utility green tariff rates for its locations abroad, including its operations in the United Kingdom. It also generates power from its own waste-burning Energy Center located near Herman Miller headquarters in Zeeland, Michigan.
For more information, see the Herman Miller Web site.
