Vornado Realty Trust is pleased to announce Chicago’s theMART has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification at the Gold Level. This accomplishment marks the third LEED Certification for theMART, having first attained the prestigious LEED designation in 2007 and re-certification in 2013.
TheMART’s sustainability program began more than 15 years ago with energy-efficiency retrofits and sound energy management. These programs have resulted in more than $1 million of annual cost savings and 23 percent of total energy savings for the building. The building’s energy efficiency is a key contributor to the reduction of theMART’s carbon footprint, eliminating 14,500 metric tons of annual CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to removing 2,400 passenger cars from roadways annually. TheMART recently expanded its promotion of carbon-free commuting with the installation of more than 350 bicycle storage racks in an area where parking for 20 cars once existed. Also contributing to LEED certification for theMART is its 7,200-sq.-ft. recycling facility, where staff pre-sorts and weighs all waste before it leaves the building, resulting in 3,245 tons of the building’s waste stream being recycled last year.
TheMART has a building-wide composting program that exceeds 100 tons of compostable waste each year. Building Maintenance Services, LLC, theMART’s janitorial service provider, facilitates the success of the recycling program and employs green cleaning services that promote healthy indoor air quality through responsible cleaning product selection.
“TheMART has a long history with LEED and a close partnership with the USGBC, and we are very proud to maintain our Gold certification status,” said Myron Maurer, chief operating officer at theMART. “Like the LEED program, theMART continues to evolve and further its sustainable mission. LEED is a widely respected seal of approval among our tenant partners and the real estate community.”
