Greener Country Opens Green Store in Jericho

Greener Country, a retail store for environmentally preferable products will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, March 14, 2009

Jericho, NY (March 11, 2009) – Greener Country, a retail store for environmentally preferable products, designed for LEED certification, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The new store is located in Jericho at 457 North Broadway (Route 106/107) at the Jericho Commons Shopping Center four doors down from the Whole Foods Market. The web site for the store is www.greenercountry.com.

“A research study proved what we suspected; that Long Island consumers are interested in environmentally preferable products. We offer green and fair-trade products which are hard to find locally, along with everyday items like cleaning agents and bath products. We have solar backpacks, rain barrels, and kitchen composters on display. Things you won’t find anywhere else,” said Robert Meinke, proprietor of Greener Country along with his wife, Maria Brandis.

Like Greener Country’s online store, www.greenercountry.com, the new store will offer energy-efficient lighting, recycled and biodegradable office supplies, fair-trade jewelry, handbags and home goods made from recycled and sustainable materials, solar and rechargeable products, and composting and garden supplies. Contractors can also purchase building supplies such as paneling, adhesives, zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint, and moulding made from sustainable materials. Many product suppliers have received Green America’s Business Seal of Approval. Green America is a non-profit member organization that identifies businesses that have made firm commitments to sustainable, socially-just principles, including the support of sweatshop-free labor, organic farms, fair trade, and cruelty-free products.

In keeping with Meinke’s beliefs about environmental stewardship the Greener Country store has been constructed and re-modeled according to the US Green Building Council’s Green Building Rating System. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design) certification recognizes a building project for its environmental impact.

“LEED focuses on five main categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and an additional category for Innovation and Design,” said Carmela Zino, sustainability advisor on the design and construction for the store. “Greener Country took the opportunity to reuse materials where possible. This made financial sense, but also diverted material that could have potentially ended up in a landfill, and also saved the extraction of virgin materials to make new products.”

In terms of projected cost savings for the energy efficiency of the store, “Energy modeling can show, with the use of the building elements incorporated, that the overall cost to operate the store as compared to a non-LEED certified store will be less. The use of the high efficient HVAC [Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning] equipment, energy efficient lighting, and lower flow water fixtures all contribute to the reduced operating cost of the store,” stated Andrew Braum, engineer for the store.

“In today's economic environment it is even more important to build with the community's best interests at heart. With Greener Country choosing to build to LEED standards they have embarked on a sustainable design that will lead to enhancing the "Triple Bottom Line" - an economic impact that benefits the People, the Planet and the Profits of our local companies,” stated Arthur R. Desin Jr., Chairman/Board of Directors of the US Green Building Council Long Island Chapter.

To benefit local companies, Greener Country sources vendors and products locally, where available. As an example, the Friendship Gift BagTM, a re-usable gift bag, is a product of Simply Re-Gift It in Wantagh. In addition, the store will be a pickup location for a Community Supported Agriculture program. Sang Lee Farms, a certified organic farm on the North Fork of Long Island, is currently accepting applications for membership.  Members will receive a weekly supply of fresh organic, local produce.

Local Feng Shui practitioner and interior designer for the store, Joan Stigliano, incorporated design elements in the store that create “a sense of physical well being and emotional equilibrium for customers because of the balance of yin and yang elements and positive Chi flow throughout the space,” she said.

Greener Country is also committed to providing education on how consumers can become more aware of the many ways consumers affect the environment through the purchasing decisions they make. Product information and instructional videos for projects such as composting and rain barrel installation are on display in the store. Demonstrations and lectures will be presented at the store. Environmental organizations are encouraged to contact the store to schedule speakers.

For additional information, contact Robert Meinke or visit www.greenercountry.com.

About Greener Country:
Greener Country offers a full line of high quality environmentally preferable products for the home and workplace. Greener Country is a socially responsible company committed to environmental stewardship.

Contact:
        Robert Meinke
        Greener Country, LLC
        516-470-1881 or toll free 1-877-680-6010

        info@greenercountry.com
        www.greenercountry.com