The newest American Furniture Warehouse being built in the northern Colorado town of Firestone will be the company’s first to use solar and wind power and environmentally friendly building methods.
American Furniture president and chief executive Jake Jabs on Wednesday detailed plans for the 521,000-square-foot building under construction near Interstate 25 and Firestone Boulevard.
“We are going to do everything we can to make the building ‘green,’ ” Jabs said after a windblown groundbreaking ceremony attended by Firestone town officials.
Jabs was unsure how much energy would be saved through the use of a planned wind-power system and solar-powered water- heating system, but he estimated the building could be as much as 25 percent more efficient than a traditional store. The project also will include Xeriscaping and recycled building materials.
The move follows in the footsteps of retail giant Wal-Mart, which last month opened an environmentally friendly store in Aurora. The store is one of two in the country that Wal-Mart is using to test conservation technologies.
“It’s so refreshing to see a company so willingly go above and beyond the building codes,” Firestone Mayor Michael Simone said of American Furniture’s plans.
The $30 million project is to be completed next August.
In addition to the new store, the privately owned American Furniture is developing the remaining 88 acres of its 132-acre parcel into a commercial and retail center.
American Furniture corporate general manager Andrew Zuppa said the company is “entertaining multiple offers” for potential tenants in the center. American Furniture expects to sell some parcels and develop a portion of the land on its own.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
