by Shane Henson — January 16, 2012—Whether constructing new buildings or improving older existing ones, earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification has become a major goal for companies with a firm commitment to sustainability. UPS (United Parcel Service of America) recently earned not only LEED Gold status for its nearly 20-year-old corporate headquarters complex, but Energy Star certification as well. It is reportedly the first major package delivery and logistics company to be awarded both certifications.
UPS engineers evaluated five main elements necessary for the LEED certification:
- Sustainable Site: Natural habitat preservation, storm water retention, heat reduction, lighting efficiencies, etc.
- Water Efficiency: Water-efficient landscaping, efficient plumbing and fixtures, water conservation performance, etc.
- Energy & Atmosphere: Automated systems, lighting efficiencies, energy consumption
- Materials & Resources: Responsible purchasing, e-waste recycling, solid waste management
- Indoor Environment Quality: Green cleaning materials, integrated pest control, etc.
- Water Efficiency: Water-efficient landscaping, efficient plumbing and fixtures, water conservation performance, etc.
The Energy Star award certifies that the UPS headquarters uses less energy, is less expensive to operate, and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than most similar buildings in the United States. To qualify for the Energy Star rating, a building or manufacturing plant must earn a score of 75 or higher on the EPA’s 1-100 energy performance scale, indicating that the facility performs better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide.
UPS’s corporate headquarters reduces environmental impact in a number of ways:
- Only six of the 35 acres of the building footprint are built upon. The remainder is untouched Piedmont Forest, considered a wildlife preserve by the state of Georgia. The forest begins a mere 15 feet from the building on all sides.
- UPS used an arborist during construction to minimize tree impact.
- Albedo concrete roofs reflect the sun’s rays, reducing absorbed heat.
- Since 2005, improvements in plumbing fixtures have reduced water consumption 39%.
- Lighting is fully automated throughout the building to conserve power during off hours.
- UPS facilities engineers documented the building’s energy efficiency, showing how fine-tuning the building’s systems saves UPS more than $100,000 per year in energy costs.
- UPS used an arborist during construction to minimize tree impact.
Information on UPS’s other environmental and sustainability initiatives is available from the company’s Corporate Responsibility Web site.
