by HILLSVILLE, Va. — Vanguard Furniture is putting its commitment to sustainability into action, investing in renewable energy to help protect the environment that future generations will inherit — and strengthen its role as a responsible employer and neighbor.
The company’s new rooftop solar installation in Hillsville is expected to offset approximately 95% of the manufacturing facility’s annual electricity use. It builds on earlier solar investments in Conover, North Carolina, bringing cleaner energy to the operations where Vanguard associates craft furniture designed to last for generations. For Vanguard, the investment connects enduring craftsmanship with a broader responsibility: caring for the communities that make its furniture possible.
“Our associates and their families call Hillsville and Conover home,” said Andy Bray, Vanguard’s president and CEO. “Investing in renewable energy is one way we support the long-term future of our business while taking responsibility for the environment our children and grandchildren will inherit.”
Developed and installed by Pisgah Energy, the Hillsville system is projected to generate more than 1 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually and offset an estimated 923 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Vanguard puts the scale of its electricity use into everyday terms: “Our annual electricity production of 1.9 million kWh is enough to power about 175 homes and carries a carbon footprint that would require roughly 250 acres of forest growth to offset each year,” said Bray.
For people living in Hillsville and Conover, these investments demonstrate that a local manufacturer is taking responsibility for the environmental impact of its operations. The systems power Vanguard’s facilities — not neighboring homes — but replacing conventional electricity with solar can reduce emissions associated with power generation, delivering benefits that extend beyond factory walls.
Vanguard’s environmental commitment also includes recycling 95% of its post-manufacturing waste, from wood and fabric scraps to metal, paper and packaging. Its emphasis on furniture built to last for generations connects responsible production with lasting product value.
For furniture retailers and designers, that combination gives Vanguard’s sustainability story substance. The company is investing not only in the furniture customers bring home, but also in how that furniture is made and the environmental legacy of its manufacturing operations.
