REI distribution center receives LEED Platinum certification

Outdoor gear and outfitter company Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), headquartered in Seattle, has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification at its newest distribution center in Goodyear, Arizona. Platinum is the highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) green building rating system—making it the first distribution center in the U.S. to achieve both LEED Platinum certification and Net Zero Energy.

"REI worked hard to deliver a new standard for the industry that was in line with our values and commitment to sustainable operations," says Rick Bingle, REI vice president of supply chain. "To create an impact that extends far beyond the co-op, we chose to open the design of the facility and our doors to the industry, not only to make it easier for other companies to build this technology into their operations but [also] to actively encourage them to do so."

The co-op welcomes anyone within the industry or the general public to tour the distribution center in Goodyear to see the facility firsthand; interested parties can contact the co-op.

REI achieved LEED Platinum certification by implementing sustainable strategies and solutions throughout the building, including:

• recycling program -- Approximately 97 percent of all materials at the distribution center are recycled and less than 3 percent of waste is sent to landfills. The recycling program includes plastic, paper, wood and cardboard.
• renewable energy -- The 2.2-megawatt solar system produces renewable energy on-site, enough to power the entire facility annually. The system is expected to provide REI with 20 years of free energy and pay for itself in five years.
• water conservation and restoration -- The distribution center features a nonevaporative cooling system—fully powered by renewable energy—to keep employees cool in the desert heat and save millions of gallons of water every year. REI will also help restore the nearby Verde River, enhancing water flows and creating new areas for paddling and other water sports. This project has balanced the entire co-op's water footprint for two years, which USGBC rewards through its Water Restoration Certificates pilot credit.
• ecofriendly building features -- REI installed energy-efficient features throughout the building, including conveyors that shut off when no items are present, an air conditioning system powered by solar energy, LED lights with motion sensors and strategically placed skylights, drought-tolerant landscaping with an underground drip irrigation system and restrooms with no-water urinals and low-flush toilets.

REI currently has seven LEED-certified facilities, including a retail store with a LEED Gold rating for Commercial Interiors in Portland, Oregon, in 2004. The combined size of REI's LEED-certified buildings is more than 1 million square feet, and the co-op's developer is also pursuing LEED certification for the building that houses the new flagship store in Washington.