A DuPont 5-story, 220,000 square foot office building at its Chestnut Run Plaza facility west of Wilmington achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification.
The green building rating system — developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council — promotes design and construction practices that increase profitability, reduces environmental impacts and improves occupant health and well-being.
DuPont Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Linda Fisher and DuPont Vice President and Chief Engineer Karen Fletcher joined Delaware DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara and Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council Janet Milkman, in an event to unveil the LEED Gold plaque.
The building includes a green roof complete with a solar array that offsets energy needs. At least 50 percent of the wood-based materials used in construction of the building are certified wood from sustainable forests, and 20 percent of the materials, used in construction of the building, originated within 500 miles of the facility.
In addition to an extensive use of recycled materials, the building incorporates advanced technology into its function and aesthetics, such as waterless urinals, energy efficient LED lighting and HVAC systems.
More than 65 percent of the building’s glass exterior allows extensive use of natural lighting. The building’s “white roof” is made of DuPont Elvaloy that reflects the sun and reduces the load on cooling systems in the summer months saving on energy bills. The carpeting is made from DuPont™ Sorona renewably sourced fiber. Its production reduces energy consumption by 30 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 63 percent.
More than 20 DuPont products are incorporated into the building’s structure, electronic systems and décor.
