Dalton—Shaw has achieved USGBC’s LEED Silver designation for new construction for its Reclaim to Energy (Re2E) process building located here. The 35,397-square-foot facility illustrates Shaw’s commitment to sustainability through innovation, noted Paul Murray, vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs for Shaw.
“We take a holistic approach to all that we do, so it’s only fitting the facilities that manufacture and recycle our products are also designed for minimal environmental impact,” he explained.
Shaw’s Re2E facility in Dalton is projected to convert 84 million pounds of carpet each year into 50,000 pounds of steam energy per hour.In 2012, Shaw’s Re2E facility began to convert carpet to steam energy—a steady, cost-stable alternative power supply for two adjacent carpet manufacturing facilities. Re2E is projected to convert 84 million pounds of carpet each year into 50,000 pounds of steam energy per hour. It will save enough fossil fuel to power the equivalent of approximately 7,500 homes annually—eventually co-generating enough electrical energy to help sustain its own operations.
“Our engineering/facilities staff worked diligently to identify opportunities to de-crease our environmental impact and reduce operating costs,” Murray added. “Earning LEED points for an industrial facility in a non-metropolitan area requires more planning than for an office building in a more urban area because such structures can’t readily take advantage of site-based points such as development density or transportation connectivity.” LEED reviews sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor air quality.
Features contributing to Re2E’s LEED Silver certification include: Optimized energy performance, obtaining more than 20% cost savings compared with buildings that only comply with Georgia’s energy code; water efficient landscaping, achieving a 50% reduction in the use of potable water, and material selection, incorporating products that achieved more than 28% recycled content for the building while using low-emitting emissions materials. Included, is Shaw Contract Group’s Site Lines carpet tile, which boasts 44% recycled content, is Cradle to Cradle Silver certified and 100% recyclable.
For more, visit shawgreenedge.com.