Seattle’s Starbucks Center, built in 1912, is the largest and oldest building in the country to earn a national green certification for existing buildings. The 1.5 million square foot building recently receiving a LEED Gold rating, The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports.
In addition, Jim Hanna, environmental affairs manager for Starbucks, said the company worked with the U.S. Green Building Council since 2001 on a LEED standard that could certify a series of prototype Starbucks stores.
Green measures in the center include installation of energy-efficient lighting and waterless urinals; use of recycled office materials and green cleaning products; purchases of renewable energy for nearly 31 percent of the center’s electricity; encouragement of alternative transportation with steps like providing storage and changing rooms for bicyclists, Flexcars for employee use and preferred parking for alternative-energy vehicles; and diversion of 48 percent of the center’s waste from landfills.
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Comments
Actually, not the oldest by a longshot. Cambridge City Hall Annex received a Gold LEED rating about three years ago, and it was built in 1871.
EppieJ November 15th, 2007