USGBC Certifies Gold Whirlpool's New TN Facility
The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded Whirlpool's Cleveland, TN facility as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certified. The state-of-the-art facility is a green work of art. With a total of 1.5 million square feet that includes manufacturing facility, testing lab and distribution center, this is the largest cooking equipment and accessories infrastructure in North America. The building features:
GreenEDU offers a free Introduction to LEED Accreditation Webinar which gives a one-hour overview of USGBC's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) and the LEED AP and Green Associate credentials. The webinar includes learning the following: the differences between various LEED rating systems; the registration & the certification processes for projects; the accreditation process and the associated credentials; the roles of USGBC and GBCI during the different processes of building certification and professional accreditation. This is a great to gain insight into the world of LEED at no cost.
Mr. Lee Utke, Senior Director of Global Real Estate, Whirpool Corporation, stated, "Receiving LEED Gold certification for the facility is a point of pride for our employees who believe in giving back to and protecting the environment in the communities Whirlpool calls home."
Whirlpool did not just limit its green initiatives to the building structure. The company has provided special parking for carpoolers and low emission vehicles, as well as showers for employees who choose to bike to work.
- Utilized Forest Stewardship (FSC) certified wood for the building of the infrastructure. This wood strives to have a negative effect on the forest from which it is cultivated.
- New plumbing techniques--they utilize rainwater and a small percentage of base line water, which alleviates the total usage of water.
- Recycled Construction Materials--an estimated 20% of building components utilized were recycled.
- Increased efficiency of HVAC systems through reflective roofing materials and pavement.
GreenEDU offers a free Introduction to LEED Accreditation Webinar which gives a one-hour overview of USGBC's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) and the LEED AP and Green Associate credentials. The webinar includes learning the following: the differences between various LEED rating systems; the registration & the certification processes for projects; the accreditation process and the associated credentials; the roles of USGBC and GBCI during the different processes of building certification and professional accreditation. This is a great to gain insight into the world of LEED at no cost.
Mr. Lee Utke, Senior Director of Global Real Estate, Whirpool Corporation, stated, "Receiving LEED Gold certification for the facility is a point of pride for our employees who believe in giving back to and protecting the environment in the communities Whirlpool calls home."
Whirlpool did not just limit its green initiatives to the building structure. The company has provided special parking for carpoolers and low emission vehicles, as well as showers for employees who choose to bike to work.
Per USGBC's website, the following criteria are used when deciding upon certifying a building project:
- Sustainable sites credits encourage strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources.
- Water efficiency credits promote smarter use of water, inside and out, to reduce potable water consumption.
- Energy & atmosphere credits promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies.
- Materials & resources credits encourage using sustainable building materials and reducing waste.
- Indoor environmental quality credits promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.
How many points received for each listed category qualifies the company for either a Silver, Gold or Platinum certification, with Platinum being the most prestigious.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $18 billion in 2012, 68,000 employees, and 65 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
About LEED
LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system providing third party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics. The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction -- Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The certification was established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $18 billion in 2012, 68,000 employees, and 65 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
About LEED
LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system providing third party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics. The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction -- Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The certification was established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation
