FedEx Express has made the environmental LEED Certification the standard for newly-built USfacilities following the accreditation of its recently built facilities in Las Vegas and
Memphis.LEED is the green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC),of which FedEx is an active member. This certification is the leading benchmark for buildings thatare designed, constructed and operated in a sustainable way.
The newly-constructed FedEx Express Las Vegas facility is the first facility of the company toreceive LEED certification, followed closely on its heels by the LEED Gold certification of FedExMemphis-based World Headquarters under the USGBC’s LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System.
The Las Vegas facility reduces indoor water use by 49% through low flow plumbing fixtures ratherthan merely “code-compliant” fixtures. Due to design elements such as skylights and evaporativecooling, energy savings are 42% higher than a similar building generates without these features.During construction, 86% of all construction waste was diverted through recycling and reclamationof materials. More than 75% of regularly-occupied spaces are sunlit to reduce the need for electriclights and provide better workspaces.
Stephen Mangin, project architect with FedEx Express, said: “LEED Gold certification is asignificant accomplishment for our Las Vegas facility, which includes a package-sorting warehouse,vehicle maintenance bay and an office building. That’s a lot of variables to work through. Inaddition to water, energy and waste reduction benefits, the natural lighting throughout is a hugeworkplace environment bonus.”
The new LEED certification requirement was also subject to internal review to ensure it meetsthe goals of the FedEx EarthSmart Solutions programme. EarthSmart is an environmental innovationand branding programme launched to reduce the company’s environmental impact.
Don Colvin, vice president of Properties and Facilities at FedEx Express, commented: “FedEx istaking another step toward our goal to conserve energy, help the environment, and create betterplaces for our customers and team members. This certification is third-party verification thatFedEx is being a good steward of the planet.”
