PepsiCo. headquarters receives LEED Platinum certification

C1S Group, an engineering and construction firm based in Dallas, has helped PepsiCo., a multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation, achieve LEED Platinum certification at its Purchase, New York, headquarters. 

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council to companies that meet the council’s criteria in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of their facilities.

C1S and PepsiCo.’s certification efforts began in 2008 with C1S conducting assessments to determine what it would require. 

“The decision was made to do a full renovation on the existing facility,” Matt Strong, president of C1S, says. “This made it easier to determine ROI (return on investment) in costs and energy efficiency.” 

Crews started by gutting the building, before replacing the electrical and mechanical systems, flooring, carpeting, lighting, ceiling, HVAC systems, among other renovations. C1S also worked with management to install environmentally friendly pest management and snow and ice removal systems and monitored all water usage over a one-year period. 

Originally, the facility had an Energy Star score of 56. A target was set to reach 80, but upon project completion, a score of 89 was achieved.

“Innovative projects, like Pepsi’s global headquarters, are setting the bar for how we design, build and operate high performing buildings,” Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, says. “A LEED Platinum certification is a signal that not only is Pepsi dedicated to addressing critical environmental challenges by building more resource efficient buildings, but it is working to improve the quality of life of its tenants and the community around it. Pepsi’s LEED Platinum global headquarters showcases the ability to change the environment in which we live, work and play for the better."

It is estimated that PepsiCo will save $215,000 each year because of several green initiatives.

Project highlights include:

• 85 percent of construction waste was recycled during renovation.
• Total greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 1,230 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, equivalent to taking 260 cars off the road for a year.
• An alternative transportation program was implemented, eliminating 34 percent of total commuting trips through vanpools, employee use of public transportation and fuel-efficient vehicles.
• High efficiency indoor water fixtures were installed throughout the facility reducing consumption by 41 percent.