pump which includes a series of tubes coursing water through the store's floor. This system, in conjunction with other design strategies, has reduced the heating and cooling energy consumption at the co-op by approximately 40%. People's farmers' market People's hosts a year round farmers market in its courtyard on Wednesday afternoons. In the summer months, there are typically 15-20 vendors offering a variety of locally grown and produced goods. Philosophy and buying guidelines People's has adopted a model of ethical consumerism and adheres to strict guidelines for the products that are retailed as well as its practices. By vote of the membership, the co-op does not carry any products containing meat with the exception of pet food. The Board of Directors has approved product selection guidelines which prohibit products containing artificial colors, flavoring, or preservatives. The guidelines also allow for the exclusion of products from companies that test on animals or operate in contradiction to the co-op's mission. People's composts all of its vegetable waste off site at the 47th Avenue Farm in Portland via an industrial vermicomposting bin. People's maintains connections to the cooperative movement via its membership in regional and national cooperative federations. People's is currently a member of the National Cooperative Grocers Association, the United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives, and the Portland Alliance of Worker Cooperatives. People's community room People's has a meeting space on site used for public and private events. Free yoga classes for members are held in the room. The room is also used for capoeira and t'ai chi, as well as for meetings of both the membership and Board of Directors. A lift was built during the expansion to ensure accessibility to the space. IS4C In 2006, People's began using IS4C, a Point of Sale (PoS) System. The program was developed by Tak Tang of the Wedge Community Co-op in Minneapolis, Minnesota. People's ported the IS4C software to the Linux platform, making it the only open-source software made specifically for food cooperatives. See also List of food cooperatives Food co-op References External links Official Website People's Expansion - Portland Office of Sustainable Development U.S Department of Energy: Buildings Database Food markets in the United States Food cooperatives in the United States Consumers' cooperatives in the United States Organic farming organizations Companies based in Portland, Oregon Food and drink companies established in 1970 Retail companies established in 1970 1970 establishments in Oregon Supermarkets