PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - Apr 22, 2011) - It's Earth Week -- and for the world's largest medical technology company, sustainability is a "big" deal. The 509,483 square foot Medtronic World Headquarters recently achieved Green Globes Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (CIEB) certification by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in sustainable operations and maintenance.
"At Medtronic we recognize the critical interdependence between human health and the environment," said Doug Fullen, Medtronic's Corporate Environmental Director. "Our well-being ultimately depends on the health and resources of the planet. For this reason, we continually strive to reduce our environmental impact. Environmental stewardship is a key pillar of corporate citizenship and provides Medtronic with a competitive advantage by reducing costs and managing risks."
It was this commitment to sustainability that caused Medtronic's Global Facilities Council to decide to take the next steps and to certify their building in accordance with the Green Globes assessment protocol.
"We wanted to understand the pros and cons of Green Globes compared to LEED and decided to pilot our World Headquarters site through the Green Globes assessment process," said Nate Pommier, Corporate EHS Engineer." Going through the Medtronic WHQ pilot project, we have found an approximate overlap of 85% with LEED criteria while achieving similar results in a less costly and onerous manner."
The four story office building, with 1,200 daily occupants, has several specialized departments including laboratory, atrium, educational center, food service, and meeting spaces. Many best practices are in place at the facility from among the Green Globes categories of energy consumption, water usage, resources, emissions, IEQ, and environmental management.
The Green Building Initiative is the exclusive U.S. licensee of Green Globes, a nationally recognized green building rating and assessment system for both new and existing commercial buildings. Green Globes is delivered through an interactive, web-enabled platform, resulting in greater ease of use and lower cost.
GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE (GBI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for commercial construction. GBI is the exclusive U.S. licensee of Green Globes®, a revolutionary green building guidance and assessment program that offers an effective, practical and affordable way to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings.