Geiger (asi/202900) is serious about going green.

That’s evident from the fact that the Top 40 promotional products distributor just earned a Gold level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its recently renovated global headquarters in Lewiston, ME.

To become LEED-certified, companies must undergo a rigorous third-party review that independently verifies that their facilities meet or exceed globally-recognized sustainable building standards.

Geiger’s headquarters in Lewiston, ME.

Geiger is making the grade.

In 2017, Geiger launched an extensive renovation of its headquarters that included installing 696 solar panels – the largest business solar array in Maine. The panels provide 100% of the headquarters’ electricity.

Furthermore, the facility overhaul empowered Geiger to reduce its annual energy usage by 40% -- a reduction realized through the help of energy-efficient LED lights, super-insulated walls and ceilings, and a natural gas heating system with a 96% efficiency rating.

“We have a deep commitment to being socially and environmentally responsible,” said Geiger Chairman Gene Geiger. “All of our decisions must pass the ‘do what’s right’ test. When we planned out our new building, we knew we had to spend the time and money to ensure it was LEED-certified at the highest level possible. We are proud of what we have done, but know there is always more to do.”

Geiger’s green efforts extend beyond its Lewiston property. Executives said the distributorship is the promo industry’s only 100% carbon-neutral shipper, paying UPS a fee to offset the carbon used to deliver every shipment from every supplier. Geiger also plants trees in the Amazon – an effort aimed at offsetting all the paper run through in its company printers. For these and other initiatives, Geiger was recognized this year by the Maine Institute for Family Owned Business with its Environmental Leadership Award.

“We are committed to the long-term goal of doing what is right for our customers, associates, sales partners, and production partners,” said Geiger President/CEO Jo-an Lantz. “It's only natural we extend that same philosophy to our environment.”

With reported 2018 North American promotional product revenue of $210.6 million, Geiger ranked 10^th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry. The firm has been especially active over the last year-and-a-half, expanding internationally through acquisitions in the United Kingdom, promoting Lantz to CEO, growing through organic growth, and strengthening its footprint domestically through strategic acquisitions.