REI’s DC eyes ‘free energy’
Never mind going for the gold, REI has visions of platinum — LEED platinum, that is.
Outdoor retailer REI has designed its distribution center to be ‘Net Zero Energy.’ By creating a facility that produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, REI hopes earns LEED Platinum status — the highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) rating system.
The facility, which is located in the Arizona desert, was designed to be one of the world's most sustainable distribution centers, according to a company statement. For example, a 2.2 megawatt solar system produces renewable energy on-site, strong enough to power the entire facility annually. The system is expected to provide REI with 20 years of free energy, and pay for itself in five years, the statement said.
REI and its partners have designed the industry's first omnichannel one-touch fulfillment system, enabling one person to process items eight times faster than the typical distribution center. The system is powered by renewable energy, and will support more than 40% of the co-op's sales and 4% of the total retail volume, the statement revealed.
The facility also features a non-evaporative cooling system to keep em-ployees cool in the desert heat. The system is fully powered by renewable energy, and saves millions of gallons of water every year. Despite being in the middle of a desert, the distribution center is also designed to help restore the nearby Verde River, enhancing water flows and recreation access.
"We are choosing to open-source the design of this distribution center because we believe it is a stake in the ground for green building, and can change how companies think about the impact that operations have on the environment — something we could not have achieved without our partners," said Rick Bingle, REI's VP of supply chain. “We think this project shows that we can push the boundaries of what's possible."
In a move to further advance the parameters of sustainable design and innovation across the industry, REI will make the design information of this facility available to the public.
