Greening Cherry Republic

By Forest Mullins

Sun contributor
“We are not just selling cherries anymore; we are trying to make a better world,” says Cherry Republic President Bob Sutherland, who has taken a cue from one of the country’s prominent environmental philanthropists and made an effort to “green up” his popular Glen Arbor business that sells all things cherry — from ice cream, to salsa, to clothing. True to form, Cherry Republic installed dual flush toilets and a solar-thermal system this past May.

Sutherland is not alone, as the green building movement gains traction in Michigan and beyond. And that’s a breath of fresh air. As recently as 2006, buildings accounted for 40 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States and 38 percent of our carbon dioxide emissions.

In our state, environmental improvements could serve two purposes. Michigan boasts the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and green jobs and technology could prove to be a savior. Grand Rapids, for instance, boasts 26 buildings that are LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) — making it per capita the top city in the country.

Of course, you’ve heard of Bob Sutherland, the local boy who began by selling t-shirts out of the back of his car. Since those meager days, his business has grown to become the leading distributor of specialty cherry products worldwide. Meanwhile, Sutherland’s environmentally conscious business practices have distinguished Cherry Republic among local businesses as a green pioneer. The company donates 1 percent of its sales to environmental nonprofits — an amount that has already topped half a million dollars. Sutherland cites Patagonia outdoor clothing company founder Yvonne Chouinard as the impetus for his environmental mission.

Chouinard “was a huge inspiration to me,” says Sutherland. The two met 11 years ago when Chouinard came to Traverse City to speak on behalf of the Michigan Land Use Institute, an environmental and land use advocacy organization. Sutherland took to heart Chouinard’s pleas to do more for the planet.

The three-year goal at Cherry Republic now is to reduce energy consumption by 40 percent by creating renewable energy and adopting energy conservation. “We’ve already gotten to 20 percent in our first year,” Sutherland adds with a smile.

The “green team” at Cherry Republic — staff members who focus on cutting energy consumption and educating fellow employees on ways to conserve energy at work and home — has teamed up with Jim Barnes of Traverse City based Eco-Building Products to implement environmental improvements at the store in Glen Arbor. “We started with the basics, changing light bulbs, increasing the insulation and installing thermostats.” Sutherland adds. The next step was to purchase construction materials from Eco-Building Products such as paints and oils that emit very few of the volatile organic compounds that may cause adverse health effects. The biggest move, though, was to install two dual flush toilets in Cherry Republic’s café and a solar-thermal system on the roof.

Cherry Republic and Eco-Building Products are paving the way for other local businesses by spreading the word about green building techniques. “We are very proud of our association, because we are helping them make a living so they can make more companies in our area greener too,” summarizes Sutherland.

Glen Arbor doesn’t have public restrooms, and won’t until next spring. In the meantime, Cherry Republic has gone though four sets of toilets in six years and experienced the stress of high water use on its septic field. “Dual flush toilets, if used correctly, have the ability to save 14 thousand gallons of water each year for businesses,” explains Jim Barnes.

Meanwhile, Eco-Building Products’ solar-thermal system heats water that can be used for washing dishes or hands. Unlike solar-photovoltaic panels, which turn solar energy directly into electricity, solar-thermal systems harness the sun’s energy for thermal energy or heat.

Several concave glass tubes are visible on the roof of café. No matter where the sun is in the sky, these tubes direct light to the copper pipes located inside. “When the liquid heats up inside the copper it turns to a gas, drawing more cold liquid up to the panels to be heated.” Barnes explains.

“It’s the most efficient, best payback, cleanest and longest lasting form of renewable energy. Everyone in northern Michigan should have one,” encourages Sutherland. “A single family home with a two-panel system, will typically cost $8,000-$10,000 installed,” estimates Barnes.

Besides earning a 50 percent tax credit on average, solar water heating can reduce carbon emissions by one ton per year if replacing natural gas, and three tons per year if replacing electric hot water heating. Cherry Republic has also begun buying wind power energy credits from a wind farm in McBain, Michigan, called Heritage Sustainable Energy.

“Our whole green initiative here has invigorated me as a business owner,” says Sutherland. “Creating a green team has inspired employees. They are more loyal and proud of what we are doing here.”

As founder of the Sierra Club Foundation David Brower put it: “There is no business to be done on a dead planet.”