May 21, 2008

Office Depot First Retailer To Pre-Certify Store Prototypes With USGBC

Office Depot is the first company to achieve volume pre-certification under the pilot LEED Portfolio Program for its store prototype design - Office Depot was part of the first group of participants to become involved in the pilot program.

Retail chains have been working with the USGBC since mid-2006 to test-pilot a new bulk certification program. The program allows chain stores to get their prototype buildings certified by the USGBC, rather than each individual location.

The Portfolio Program pilot is breaking new ground for LEED and adding to our ability to scale green building’s immediate and measurable results at a much faster level,” said USGBC’s Market Development Vice President Doug Gatlin.

Office Depot’s LEED prototype features environmental attributes such as solar tracking skylights, solar panels, energy efficient T5 lighting, non-asphalt, concrete parking lot, recycled content carpet, and light sensors.

The prototypes also include a recycling program for collection of corrugated cardboard, paper, plastics, ink/toner cartridges and technology.

The first Office Depot store to be built to this prototype is located in Austin, Texas and is scheduled to open late next month. Office Depot first announced its green building plans in September, 2007.

Last summer, Office Depot announced that it reached a 10% absolute reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas and electricity consumed in its North American retail stores, warehouses, and offices by installing more energy efficient technology.

REI recently announced that its Boulder, Colorado prototype store has reached the second phase in its expansion and renovation.

Last year, Wal-Mart released results on the energy efficiency of its experimental stores.

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