"The Gift that Keeps on Giving" Natural Body Spa Shares Their Green Domino Effect
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Natural Body Spa and Shop was recently named the recipient of the 2010 Stevie Award for Women in Business' 'Environmental Stewardship Program of the Year.' The Stevie Awards selection committee, comprised of business advisors and entrepreneurs, based their decision on Natural Body Spa's significant and innovative organization of environmental resources and stewardship.
Co-founded in 1989 by CEO Cici Coffee, Natural Body Spa and Shop is a full-service 'green' day spa dedicated to environmental stewardship in each of its Southeast locations. According to Coffee, "the incorporation of green elements are key components in the planning, building, design of spas and daily operations as we focus on reducing environmental impact while educating employees and guests about sustainability and eco-friendly practices."
Going Platinum
Natural Body's Brookhaven, Georgia spa is the first spa in the United States to achieve LEED Platinum certification by the USGBC, according to Coffee. The Brookhaven location features a full-service Natural Body Spa and Shop and the company's newest concept, 10TEN Nail Bar.
"Reducing our impact on the earth is always at the forefront of our thoughts when designing a new spa location," says Coffee. "With the opening of our latest spa and nail bar in Brookhaven, it seemed only natural that we should take our greening efforts to a higher level by developing the site to higher LEED specifications than any of our previous facilities."
Natural Body credits Energy Ace for helping them achieve many of their LEED points, including the additional Platinum points. Energy Ace calculated the energy reduction to attain the needed points. They achieved the target number with a little 3-watt puck light that is used in all of the spa treatment rooms for mood lighting, "I love my little hockey pucks," Coffee says smiling.
Natural Body has built upon the origin as a natural products outlet to become one of the greenest companies in the spa business today. All marketing and collateral materials are printed on FSC certified papers, using only soy or other natural based inks. The tissue and paper towels in the spas are eco-friendly and only environmentally safe cleaning products are used. The spa floors are made of recycled materials and surroundings are created from post consumer materials whenever possible. LED (Light Emitting Diodes) light bulbs instituted in the majority of the spa; and in all other areas, fluorescent lighting is used as a low energy option.
The Green Domino Effect on the Community
In addition to successfully earning awards for environmental stewardship, Natural Body is most proud to tell their story of how the award continues to have a positive affect on the community and the environment. "We are most proud that our efforts continue to impact people who learn good environmental practices through touring our Brookhaven location. Education has always been our mission.
From the beginning of construction, positive changes in peoples' lives were unfolding. For example: The cabinet makers (Georgia Cabinet) found LEED documentation to be very tedious, yet they went on to win a very difficult LEED project at the Phillips Arena soon afterward. Natural Body's architecture firm, Ware and Associates, started a company recycling program that soon trickled down to the entire 10-story building where their office is located. One of the most rewarding effects is seeing the transition at our retail neighbor, Live Well Studio. Live Well Studio matched our Clean Air Campaign by giving students a discount for walking or biking to a workout. Scott, the owner of Live Well Studio, was excited to share that his sales were up and his clients' weights were down as a result of his new approach to low impact on the earth high impact on our bodies."
"The story goes on" continues Coffee. She reports that the Brookhaven location has just paid off the incremental expenditures occurred as a result of going Platinum in its 24th month of opening, through energy savings thanks to her team- Energy Ace, Ware and Associates, and H2 Ecodesign. "We save 13 cents a square foot compared to one of our older stores, which amounts to $751.66 dollars a month. When you multiply that by 24 months or $18,039.84 you fully cover the cost of LED's, more fresh air and a seven-zoned HVAC system (extra zones only). My massage therapists have control of the temperature, my estheticians have control, nail techs and retail specialists all have their own temperature within reason and Natural Body doesn't have these wide swings in temperature depending on who is in the driver's seat."
The last and most important note shared by Natural Body is the happiness indicator reported from the last post occupant survey to their team. The results indicated that the staff was much happier in the Brookhaven space as a result of the natural lighting, fresh air, and low/no VOCs. The spa reported less sick days and overall better health.
"We are very proud to be affiliated with such a revolutionary program that creates awareness around the importance of being environmentally responsible and allows us to continue to set standards in the green spa industry," states Coffee.
Natural Body and Spa has corporate offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and has grown to 16 spa locations throughout the Southeast including Raleigh, North Carolina; West Germantown and Chattanooga, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; and Leawood, Kansas.
To learn more about Natural Body Spa, visit them online at www. NaturalBody.com
Mention this article at the Natural Body Spa Brookhaven Location and get 15% off any scheduled hour or longer service through the end of the year. Use code: EnergAce2010.
