“WE HAVE TO HELP EACH OTHER”

What one retail business can do for the environment, community, and local economy. CITY Furniture takes the Green Pledge — and acts on it.

By Yulia Strokova

Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture

Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture, seemed always within reach. At the 4th Annual Green CITY Summit on July 9, he was as much a participant as a host — not just on stage but mingling through the crowd, exchanging ideas, and generously sharing his email with anyone who asked.

“We’ve learned a lot on our green journey, but we don’t want to keep it to ourselves. We have to help each other,” Andrew said in his opening remarks.

As guests filled the room — ranging from CEOs to small business owners, climate advocates to city officials — there was an energy that spoke volumes: no one is alone in this work.

“If there’s anything I can do to help your business, your customers, your partners, or your friends take similar steps, let me know. We need more businesses embracing this path — not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s good for business too,” Andrew added.

Photo Courtesy of CITY Furniture

That mindset drives CITY Furniture’s ambitious “Green Promise” to become carbon neutral by 2040. Already, its delivery fleet runs entirely on compressed and renewable natural gas. With fuel costs averaging $1.20 per gallon compared to diesel at $3.40, it’s a win for both the planet and the bottom line. Recognized as the greenest private fleet in the United States four years ago, CITY still holds that top distinction.

While Andrew publicly credited his fleet leaders for these accomplishments, the team quickly turned the praise back.

“This is happening because of Andrew’s consistent drive,” said Dave Clevenger, managing director of fleet and a veteran, as he guided attendees around an impressive lineup of trucks in Tamarac, Broward County. “Almost every week, he asks me to bring new sustainable solutions to the table.”

Photo Courtesy of CITY Furniture

Beyond transportation, CITY equips nearly every new store for LEED certification and confirmed that more than 70% of its total energy consumption now comes from solar — thanks to a partnership with Florida Power & Light’s SolarTogether program.

“We have 38 facilities, four warehouses, and two headquarters. Saying over 70% of our electricity comes from the sun? That’s a big deal,” Andrew noted proudly.

While these green milestones are notable, conversations at the Summit underscored the complexity and urgency businesses face — especially in South Florida, where rising seas erode coastlines, landfills near capacity, and insurers withdraw from the state as climate risks and soaring costs push systems to the brink. In this landscape, sustainability and circular solutions are no longer optional.

“When you live, work, and play in Florida, you have a special responsibility to protect it,” said Guillermo Santa Cruz, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Photo Courtesy of CITY Furniture

NASCAR, America’s most-watched motorsport, has publicly committed to achieving zero operating emissions by 2035 — a bold goal for a sport deeply rooted in tradition. The organization is investing heavily in clean energy, renewable fuels, electrification of support vehicles, and recycling initiatives at its variety of tracks nationwide.

At Homestead-Miami Speedway alone, efforts include water-filling stations to reduce plastic waste and comprehensive post-race recycling. Even the tires — thousands used every season — are collected and repurposed as aggregate in roadbeds, landfill liners, and landscaping products like mulch for playgrounds and parks.

For Guillermo, sustainability also means creating lasting community impact. NASCAR partners with Miami-Dade schools to deliver STEM programs preparing students for careers in renewable energy and green technologies.

“We’re helping develop jobs that stay in our communities — jobs that can’t be exported or replaced by AI,” Guillermo explained in his keynote speech. “Coming here and meeting people who share the same mission — that’s how we move from talk to action.”

This year’s Green City Summit blended hands-on learning, bold conversations, and action-oriented sessions. Participants joined Habitat for Humanity to assemble disaster resilience kits, learned how B-Corp leader Avocado Mattress integrates sustainable practices into product design, and explored a successful recycling collaboration between Waste Management and Amerant Bank Arena, home of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

“Sustainability is a team sport and collective effort,” said Silvia Garrigo, assistant professor at the University of Miami Herbert Business School, as she welcomed participants to her breakout session. “Even after 30 years in this field, I still reach out to colleagues to learn the ‘how.’ That remains one of our greatest challenges.”

The Summit’s Expo showcased real-world solutions — from community composting by Filthy Organics to affordable rooftop solar from Terra Energy.

Among the eco-conscious vendors was Yadira Diaz of Gradible, the local marketplace offering over 200 tailored solutions to reduce waste, energy, and water use. She underscored how strong environmental initiatives, paired with compelling storytelling, can unlock new revenue streams, build brand trust, and increase market value.

“There are companies proving that sustainability is a profitable path. It opens doors to financial incentives, sponsorships, and partnerships that move the needle. But it really does take a village. When you bring the right people together in one room, it makes all the difference,” Yadira said.

Photo Courtesy of CITY Furniture

Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan, who also joined the Summit, now chairs the Solid Waste Authority — a consortium of elected officials working to increase recycling and reduce the 5 million tons of waste that Broward residents and businesses send to landfills and incinerators each year.

“We’re facing a real crisis in Broward County,” Michael said. “For 50 years, there have been intentional failures in how we’ve handled waste and recycling. Now we’re playing catch-up, and the only way forward is through strong partnerships — public and private — following the lead of corporate pioneers who’ve already proven what’s possible.”

He added: “CITY Furniture, the Florida Panthers, and so many others have shown us this: you can be good stewards of the environment and improve your bottom line. As I walked around today, I saw people engaging in exactly the kinds of conversations we need: ‘Tell me what you can do. How can you help? When can we meet?’

“That’s the purpose of gatherings like this, and it’s the kind of momentum we need every day of the year.”

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