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Using Green Building Strategies to Meet Sustainability Goals
As more companies are making big commitments to become more sustainable businesses, the corporate world is making substantial moves to become greener and reduce their environmental impact. Driven by their shareholders, employees and customers, companies understand their obligation to reduce their negative environmental impact and contribute more to healthier communities.
To help these companies achieve their sustainability goals, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has continued to update its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program to meet the needs of companies across all sectors.
LEED serves as a reliable framework for the sector to standardize sustainable design and operations across a portfolio.
The current version—LEED v4.1—brings greater awareness to human health and well-being and encourages teams to focus on performance data in an effort to help make more informed decisions and better manage what they’re measuring.
LEED for building design, construction, operations and maintenance
on both performance-oriented sustainable strategies and outcomes, LEED helps build high performing buildings. LEED BD&C is designed for new warehouses and distribution centers. This rating system addresses the differences in energy use, site selection and resource usage from more heavily occupied buildings, while still applying the principles of sustainability. LEED BD&C provides a framework for building a holistic green building. LEED O+M is designed for existing for warehouses and distribution centers, and addresses the difference in energy use, occupant levels and resource usage from more heavily occupied buildings, while still applying the principles of sustainability. LEED O+M also provides existing buildings an opportunity to pay close attention to building operations by supporting whole buildings and interior spaces that have been fully operational and occupied for at least one year. LEED O+M addresses the difference in energy use, occupant levels and resource usage from more heavily occupied buildings, while still applying the principles of sustainability. The program tracks performance in energy, water, waste, transportation, indoor air quality, toxin-free environment and occupant satisfaction and provides LEED points based on performance. Currently, there are more than 1,571 LEED-certifi ed warehouses and distribution centers around the world totaling 568,648,197 gross square feet of space. These facilities store and distribute everything from manufactured products and merchandise to raw materials and food and even U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) The USGBC continues to update its LEED program to meet the personal belongings, like needs of companies across all sectors. self-storage. By focusing
Sustainability in the food chain sector
One sector making strides in their sustainability efforts is the food chain industry. This sector faces unique challenges along its green journey, but is fi nding innovative ways to address its operations’ environmental impact.
For example, energy usage is one of the biggest operational expenses, particularly for cold food chain suppliers. Refrigeration uses a substantial amount of energy, so companies are turning to alternative energy sources like solar, wind and new energy effi cient cooling technology.
Lighting can also be a signifi cant source of energy consumption for warehouses. By using using daylight, stormwater and lighting systems more effi ciently, companies can reduce energy costs and earn more LEED points.
Companies are also taking notice of consumers’ desire to see companies make bigger commitments to sustainability, particularly through packaging. Food suppliers are taking steps to reduce the use of single-use plastics, turn to more ecofriendly materials and reduce waste.
On the distribution side of the food supply chain, companies are looking for ways to address transportation concerns such the high emission rates of transporting foods and the amount of food loss. Some companies are looking at more effi cient transportation methods that rely less on gas-power vehicles as a way to reduce emissions, food loss and waste. Reducing energy and water usage, lowering emissions and decreasing waste translates to lower operation costs.
