NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, a
global leader in beverage alcohol, and one of Norwalk's largest employers, announced that
its Norwalk, Connecticut office
has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED®) Silver certification by the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC). This certification is the fourth of
Diageo's buildings in North
America to be LEED-certified, joining the company's
Chicago and New York offices, and a facility in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. The LEED rating system, developed by the
USGBC, is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities
that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for
improved environmental and human health performance.
Developed by USGBC in March 2000,
LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for
identifying and implementing practical and measurable green
building design, construction, operations and maintenance
solutions. The certification process evaluates all construction
standards regarding sustainability and respect for the environment,
across six categories: Sustainable Site, Water Efficiency, Energy
and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental
Quality and Innovation in Design.
"We regularly analyze and address the impact of our operations
on the environment, and LEED certification is one of our
sustainability milestones in Norwalk and across North America," said John Longo, Diageo North America, Director,
Corporate Real Estate. "Taking the steps that led to LEED
certification was the right thing to do for the environment, and
also for our business. Those initiatives enable us to save
resources, and also make our employees proud to work in an
environmentally-friendly building."
In the LEED evaluation for the Norwalk building, Diageo scored the highest in
the categories of: Innovation in Design, Water Efficiency,
Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.
One of the factors that led to LEED certification is the company's
robust program of energy management to support lower energy usage.
The office has transitioned to utilizing lower energy LED
(light-emitting diode) light fixtures and bulbs, as well as systems
that ensure that heating and air conditioning are only provided
during off-hours upon request. Occupancy sensor lighting and
maximization of natural light also contribute to lessen overall
energy use. In 2013 Diageo announced a transition to 100
percent renewable electricity at the Norwalk site. The move to purchase
electricity derived from renewable sources is estimated to result
in a 92 percent reduction in carbon emissions in Norwalk.
"Diageo's LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green
building leadership," said Rick
Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green
Building Council. "The urgency of USGBC's mission has challenged
the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and
Diageo serves as a prime example with just how much we can
accomplish."
Diageo is recognized as a global leader in environmental
sustainability. Globally, Diageo was the top beverage company in
2013 in the Carbon Disclosure Project, and scored highly in the
FTSE4GOOD (top food and beverage company) and Dow Jones
Sustainability indices. As Diageo's largest region by volume
and value, with a significant manufacturing footprint, Diageo North
America is a significant contributor to this result. In 2013,
Diageo North America became a signatory of the Climate Declaration,
which brings together companies and individuals to demonstrate
support for a national strategy to tackle climate change. For
more details about Diageo's global sustainability efforts, view the
company's 2014 Sustainability & Responsibility Report at
http://www.diageo.com/en-row/newsmedia/Pages/resource.aspx?resourceid=2317
.
Last month Diageo also announced its commitment to new
sustainability and responsibility targets for 2020, which are
aligned with the emerging United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals. The 2020 goals reflect ambitions to best manage carbon
emissions and water stewardship across Diageo's entire supply
chain. For more details about Diageo's 2020 targets, visit
http://www.diageo.com/en-row/csr/sustainability/Pages/2020-Sustainability-Responsibility-targets.aspx.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage
alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits,
beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B,
Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills
whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan,
Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and
Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more
than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on
both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock
Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our
people, our brands, and performance, visit us at
www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking
resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways
to share best practice.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
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SOURCE Diageo