4. Big Ass Fan Company
The Big Ass Fan Company in Lexington, KY, supports organizations important to their customers and employees. The company and its 230 employees contribute financial, product and volunteer support to organizations such as the Lexington Living Arts and Science Center, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Lexington Firefighter's Toy Drive, Celiac Disease Foundation and college scholarships. It also gives back in green ways. Big Ass Fan’s 46,000-ft2 LEED Gold Research and Development lab in Lexington allows it to optimize numerous energy saving elements, which contribute to the company’s conservation efforts. The lab was designed to use 35% less energy and 58% less water and, during construction, 51% less waste went to the landfill, and 9% fewer materials were used to build. This building uses less energy per year to operate than a vacant warehouse.
Photo: Big Ass Fan Company’s R&D lab and mascot Fanny with toys employees purchased for the 2011 Lexington Firefighters Toy Drive. Photo credit, Big Ass Fan Company