Apr 6 2010
Cloud computing and hosting company Rackspace Hosting has announced that its headquarters has been given a LEED Gold certification by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification program of the U.S. Green Building Council. Generally, the certification recognizes the construction, design and function of green buildings with high performance. The conversion of an unoccupied shopping complex into a building named ‘The Castle’ has earned the certification for Rackspace and further indicates the commitment of the company to sustainability by means of its Greenspace Initiative.
The Director of Rackspace’s real estate division Randy Smith stated that with improved energy efficiency and utilization, ‘going green’ is a long-term, practical decision both environmentally and fiscally.
The conversion of the shopping complex by Rackspace has benefited nearby retail businesses, schools and residential neighborhoods. In Phase I and Phase II of the conversion, the company has constructed around 230,000 sq. ft. and is likely to build more green office area in Phase III. The renovation was done by Rackspace by adhering to sustainable practices in line with LEED principles: energy efficiency, water savings, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and sustainable site development.
Some sustainable practices include recycling of over 1,900 tons of metal, wood, concrete and other materials; sending recovered building materials including fixtures, windows and doors to Habitat for Humanity; carefully selecting design materials such that it does not affect the environment; encouraging natural lighting by means of skylights; installing state-of-the-art hand dryers in an effort to decrease paper waste as well as low-flow toilets for conserving water; and deploying recycling bins for aluminum, plastic and paper throughout the facility.
The Greenspace Initiative of Rackspace is a sustainability approach through its customer offerings, corporate conservation and employee education. On April 22, Rackspace will be hosting its annual “Green Day” event at its San Antonio headquarters.
Source: http://www.rackspace.com