Can a committed family do something worthwhile for the environment? The answer is “YES”. The Essl family, owner of bauMax Do-It-Yourself international store chain, proved that consideration towards the future generations is a matter of serious social involvement and that the impact of a committed family, running a responsible business, can make a statement for sustainability that would be hard to ignore.

This is the visionary context in which the RoGBC member bauMax opens the first green Do-It-Yourself store in Romania. The commercial unit located in Ploiesti uses innovative green technology for heating and lighting, saving not only energy use, but also money. The store has a floor heating system, connected to heat pumps (that use earth heat and transform it into electric energy). Also, the lighting system uses different lighting schemes for the different areas of the store. Plus, the store favors the use of natural light, through the glass roof insertions.

To complete the ecological concept, the bauMax Ploiesti store is the host of a two-week exhibition dedicated to green building solutions and products, as well as to interactive presentations on sustainable constructions and energy efficiency, both organized in collaboration with the Romania Green Building Council.

Suppliers like URSA, Lafarge, REHAU, Wienerberger, Dexion, Corporate Office Sollutions, Rigips, Calidus, Natural Paint and landscape designer Katja Perrey displayed multiple options for the Do-It-Yourself customers. In addition three specialized trainings brought quality information, delivered by Adrian Moisa (Jetrun), Sorin Pana (URSA Romania) and Andrei Lakatos (University of Architecture, Bucharest). The presentations focused on the improvements that home owners can make in order to lower their energy bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Furthermore, the exhibition displayed the winning projects of a green renovation contest organized by the RoGBC and bauMax addressed to aspiring students in architecture, construction, engineering to provide visual appeal, information, and a view from future designers about the exhibition’s theme. The jury that graded the projects was formed by: Katja Perrey (KP Landscapes), arh. Andrei Lakatos (University of Architecture and Urban Planning Bucharest), Laura Nemoianu (Romania Green Building Council). The results are here. The Romania Green Building Council joined the store opening to recognize bauMax’s commitment to constructing a better building in terms of environmental responsibility and to introducing more sustainable construction products into their product selection.

Click the links for pictures from the exhibition & from the opening ceremony.