Office Depot debuts LEED for Commercial Interiors registered store

Boca Raton, Fla. Office Depot said Thursday that its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Commercial Interiors (CI) registered store will open July 15 in Austin, Texas. The office supply retailer said the store is expected to be LEED certified in a few months and is one of 14 greener stores planned for 2010.

LEED CI is the U.S. Green Building Council’s recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint.

Through LEED for Commercial Interiors, Office Depot is able to integrate environmentally friendly attributes into its stores’ preexisting shells. Beginning with the Austin store, all new and relocated North American Office Depot retail locations will receive LEED CI certification, including 14 stores planned for 2010.

“LEED CI is a step forward in our expanded effort to grow greener,” said Kevin Peters, president of North American retail for Office Depot.

The company’s first LEED Gold certified store, also in Austin, opene in 2008.

Features of the new LEED CI store include skylights, reflective roof, Energy Star-rated HVAC equipment, T5 energy-efficient lighting, low VOC interior finishes, water conservation interior fixtures and in-store recycling center.