This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Cannabis Dispensary. To subscribe, click here.
There’s no doubt that the cannabis industry is resource dependent. In February, for example, Denver’s Department of Public Health released data showing that cannabis businesses use roughly 4 percent of the city’s total electricity.
However, sustainable design and construction, and obtaining Leadership in Energy and Design Development (LEED) certification (a rating system by the United States Green Building Council to evaluate a building’s environmental performance) are strategies that can be leveraged by retailers to practice good earth stewardship.
“Going green” can mean more upfront costs, but it can also reduce ongoing operational costs, improve employee productivity and support social responsibility efforts. Here are five ways to make your dispensary more environmentally friendly.
1. Start with the right team.
Whether the project is a new build, an interior improvement or a green overhaul of operations, meet early with an architect, designer or LEED/sustainability consultant. Early sustainability-informed discussions can ensure that the selected location can support the project and its goals. Everyone involved in the project—your real estate agent, mechanical (heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC)) engineer,
To read the full article in Cannabis Dispensary's April 2018 issue, click here.
Top photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.
