How About a Side of LEED With Your Sodas & Subs?
As Earth911 has recently reported, a number of businesses are seeing the perks of going “green,” and in this case, going “LEED.”
Following suit of such organizations as Dunkin’ Donuts, Toyota and Giant Eagle, Subway and PepsiCo have launched their first Silver level LEED-certified locations from the U.S. Green Building Council. To earn LEED certification, points are awarded for building attributes in five categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality.
Silver Soda
In Chicago, PepsiCo’s headquarters, building on the company’s “Performance with Purpose” vision, hit the Silver level benchmark by:
- Reducing energy use by 10 percent in less than a year
- Cutting water use 37 percent below Energy Policy Act performance standards
- Eliminating almost 226 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- Diverting 70 percent of the facility’s solid waste from landfills through recycling glass, paper, plastic, cardboard, batteries, printer/fax cartridges and light bulbs
The Chicago Plaza headquarters joinsPepsiCo’s other LEED-certified buildings such as the Tolleson, Wytheville and Pryor Gatorade facilities, and the Frito-Lay Rochester Distribution Center.
Green Subs (And We’re Not Talking About Mold)
Subway’s fist Eco-Store, located in Kissimmee, Fl., made a commitment to make its operations more environmentally accountable. The location is providing an opportunity for the brand to measure and compare energy and water saving principles against a duplicate non-eco Subway restaurant three miles away, with preliminary figures showing an energy savings of about 20 percent.
The store utilizes eco-conscious features like:
- LED interior and exterior signs
- Building and decor materials from sustainable sources
- Extensive use of recycled products and furnishings
- An increased emphasis on recycling in customer areas
- Low-flow water fixtures
In states like North Carolina, Oregon and Louisiana, there are currently five Eco-stores open and operating, three others of which are currently pending LEED certification.
In the U.S., buildings utilize a high percentage of available resources. 72 percent of our electricity consumption and 30 percent of our waste output (136 million tons annually) are consumed by the places we live and work. LEED certification seeks to reduce this consumption and create awareness for our use of natural resources.
