Staples store achieves LEED gold certification

Framingham, Mass. One of Staples’ Miami-based stores has been awarded gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This is the first store in Miami-Dade County, and in the Staples chain, to earn gold certification.

The green retail store, located on Biscayne Blvd., features a reflective roofing system and rooftop gutter systems. It was built with low-emitting materials for adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpet and other building products, and the landscaping features native plans and shrubs.

Non-renewable resources such as drywall, steel, concrete, carpet, and parking stops were constructed from recycled materials. Rainwater is used for plant irrigation, and energy management and thermal comfort is delivered through indoor temperature controls that are adjusted based on occupancy loads and external weather conditions.

“From day one, our customers have praised our store’s efforts to deliver office products, technology and services in an environmentally friendly way,” said Ulysses Perez, Staples’ Biscayne Boulevard store’s general manager.

The green store has prompted other area retailers to register and seek LEED certification as well, according to a company statement.