Canon U.S.A.’s 114,000 square-foot expansion of its distribution center in Norcross, Ga., has been awarded LEED® v4 certification in the “Building Design and Construction – Warehouses and Distribution Centers” category. Used to store inventory and fulfill orders placed in the U.S., the facility is the first warehouse to receive this new version of LEED.

Established by the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that recognizes buildings, homes and neighborhoods that are designed, constructed, operated and/or maintained to be environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. LEED v4 focuses on increasing technical stringency from past versions and developing new requirements for project types such as data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hotels/motels, existing schools, existing retail, and mid-rise residential.

Elements that earned the Canon distribution center its LEED v4 certification include:

• Energy efficiencydue to motion sensors and efficient lighting, improved heating systems and a 50kW solar panel installation
• Water-saving measuresincluding efficient, low-flow fixtures in restrooms, as well as water-efficient plantings over parts of the exterior site to reduce reliance on irrigation systems
• Environmental operating practicessuch as a comprehensive recycling program, the increased use of recycled content materials for logistics supplies and a “green cleaning” policy that requires a majority of cleaning material/product purchases to meet environmental standards
• Potential reduction of CO2emissions due to exterior electrical outlet “plug-ins” for trucks to avoid idling

These updates reduce, compared to baseline calculations, energy consumption of the expansion by 30%, indoor water use by 35% and outdoor water use by 57%.

Scot Horst, senior vice president, LEED, USGBC, said: “LEED v4 provides solutions for optimizing performance, and ultimately achieving better environmental, economic and social outcomes in our buildings. Canon has undoubtedly shown their commitment to environmental sustainability by earning this next level of LEED certification.”

Balfour Beatty Construction managed the project in a Design-Build approach and oversaw the LEED v4 pilot project. Gensler was responsible for the planning, interior design and architecture for the expansion.

The Canon Americas Headquarters, located in Melville, N.Y., was also awarded LEED Gold certification in February 2014. The Canon Americas Headquarters is the largest commercial property on Long Island to achieve this level of LEED certification.