Environmental Leader

This past week, a United Natural Foods distribution center became the first cold storage facility in the country to receive the LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Designed by Randall-Paulson Architects, the Ridgefield, Washington facility is completely powered by renewable energy, which has cut energy costs by over 30 percent and reduced CO2 emissions by over 4 million pounds annually.

Along with using 100 percent renewable energy, other environmentally-friendly features at the United Natural Foods distribution center include:

• A water-reduction system that cuts usage by over 40 percent
• Natural landscaping with indigenous plants
• 238 percent more vegetated open space than legally required
• Use of wood from FSC-certified suppliers
• Use of low- or zero-VOC interior building products
• Preferred parking for low-emission and hybrid vehicles
• Landfill diversion of over 95 percent of building waste

Other companies with facilities that recently received LEED certification include Dell Children’s Hospital and Office Depot, and this year’s International Builders’ Show featured a record number of vendors with an environmental focus.

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