Hollywood, Fla. (Sept. 18, 2008)—The Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) has joined forces with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non−profit organization of building industry leaders working to advance high−performance green buildings. The membership underscores A.R.E.’s commitment to the development of retail environments that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to work and shop.

As the retail environments authority, A.R.E. is raising the profile of retail environments providers’ contribution to the green building industry. With the USGBC, A.R.E. will work to ensure that the retail environments industry maintains a significant presence in the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Retail−Commercial Interiors (LEED for Retail−CI). The association is educating members and retailers about how retail environments elements fit into LEED for Retail−CI through a special web section, magazine articles, educational sessions at GlobalShop, the A.R.E. Convention, and A.R.E. seminars, and other channels. And A.R.E. serves as the green building industry’s definitive resource on retail environments.

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About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since USGBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 16,500 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building certification systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About A.R.E.
Members of the Association for Retail Environments, formerly NASFM, are retail environments professionals and proven industry leaders—companies that are well known for excellent craftsmanship, topflight service, and cutting–edge innovation. Member companies offer a full range of products and services for retail environments, and include store fixture suppliers, retail design firms, suppliers of visual merchandising products, and suppliers of materials and equipment for the retail environments industry. Member capabilities include importing, exporting, consolidating, installing, project management, engineering, design, and more.