Exterior windows and skylights throughout the building allow for the controlled admission of natural light, with the intent of reducing or eliminating electric lighting. By utilizing solar light, daylighting creates a stimulating and productive environment for employees and visitors. Of our regularly occupied spaces, 80% have access to daylight. Perimeter windows also offer occupants a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces by providing a view from within for 92% of occupied spaces.

Insulated, heat-treated glass is used on the east, south, and west building faces to reduce solar heat gain and to limit the cooling loads placed on the building's mechanical systems. The glare-reducing "frit" on the glass improves the comfort of building occupants.

Sensors have been installed throughout the building to respond to natural-light levels, allowing us to maintain both adequate lighting for production and efficient use of electricity. In some instances, occupancy sensors detect the presence of individual users (in the restrooms, for example), automatically turning lights on or off as necessary. In other cases, the lights simply dim as the sensors respond to natural-light levels within the building.

Low-emitting materials — materials which release zero or negligible pollutants into the environment — were used with the intention to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating, and/or harmful to the comfort and well being of the occupants. All adhesives and sealants used on the interior of the building comply with referenced standards for air-quality control. Several materials (including carpet, wood products, paints, coatings, glues, and sealants) containing low volatile organic compound levels (VOCs) were specified in the design process to ensure compliance with air-quality measures.

Air-monitoring systems, designed to help sustain occupant health and comfort, are integrated into the building's mechanical systems. These systems have been designed to regulate indoor air quality, introducing fresh air as necessary to flush out any contaminants, such as carbon dioxide, that may be present in the air.

With the intent to minimize exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces, and ventilation air-distribution systems to tobacco smoke, the entire campus — inside and out — has been designated as a smoke-free facility.

Recycling stations are found at various locations throughout the Sweetwater facility, aiding in the reduction of waste generated by building occupants. Shredded paper and cardboard boxes are also reused as packing materials for shipping equipment to customers. Recycling of paper, metals, cardboard, and plastics reduces the need to extract virgin natural resources. Minimizing the volume of waste sent to landfills reduces environmental impacts on land, water, and air within the surrounding communities.

Prior to occupancy, the building air was flushed to reduce or eliminate harmful vapors and toxins that may have been present during the construction process.

Sweetwater's restrooms employ water conservation strategies that amount to a 54% savings in annual water usage, reducing the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems. Waterless urinals; low-flow, light-powered faucets with occupant sensors; and dual-flush toilets all contribute to water savings.

Careful consideration was taken in the selection of building materials, to ensure that a certain percentage of recycled content would be maintained throughout the project. Carpet, fabric, steel, and other miscellaneous metals are a few of the materials throughout the complex that contain recycled content, contributing to an overall recycled content percentage of 31.4%.

Materials and products extracted and manufactured within the region were chosen with the intent of supporting indigenous resources while reducing the environmental impacts that result from the transportation of building materials. Of the project's materials, 44% have been extracted, harvested, recovered, and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site, including structural steel, stone cladding, drywall, insulation, and doors.

Rapidly renewable materials were chosen for the project whenever possible, including products derived from plants that are typically harvested within a 10-year cycle or shorter, including cork, bamboo, pine, and okan wood.

A minimum of 50% of wood-based materials and products used in the facility have been certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council's Principles and Criteria for wood building components. These components include structural and general dimensional framing, flooring, subflooring, wood doors, and finishes. The wood ceilings found throughout the offices are composed of a thin okan veneer — an African satin wood harvested in a certified forest — backed with bamboo plywood, a rapidly renewable material. Additionally, all wood used in the warehouse racking system is FSC certified.

Sweetwater commissioned specialists to design and analyze the building's mechanical systems. Energy modeling, through testing and balancing of different components, was calculated to improve the efficiency of the systems by 5-10%.

This building features a white roof membrane that is highly reflective, therefore reducing the building's solar heat gain. Insulation was also added to the roof to increase energy efficiency.

During off-peak hours (overnight), ice storage tanks on the west edge of the campus produce ice for the mechanical systems' cooling needs, reducing overall power consumption and the load on the utility grid. Annual energy savings will offset the cost of this system within five years.

Goals were established early in the construction process to divert construction waste from landfills, as specific recycling locations were used throughout the construction site. Materials were sorted meticulously to identify materials that could be sent back to the manufacturing process or directed for reuse. Many containers of concrete, wood, glass, plastic, and various metals were salvaged throughout the construction process, contributing overall to the 19,026 tons of construction waste (or 98% total) that were diverted from the landfill.

About the USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization whose vision is a sustainable-built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since USGBC's founding in 1993, the Council has grown to include more than 17,000 member companies and organizations; a comprehensive family of LEED green building rating systems; an expansive educational offering; the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org); and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.