The Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. plant in Knoxville, TN., is the 20,000th commercial building to earn LEED certification. The United States Green Building Council issued a LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) certification to the company.

“The 20,000th LEED certification belongs to an organization that shares our social and environmental values, and we applaud GMCR on its accomplishment,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chair of USGBC. "This is an important milestone in our mission to drive market transformation in the built environment to practices that make healthy, high-performing buildings a fact of life.

The Knoxville plant is the seventh LEED-certified facility for GMCR. Sustainable features of the Knoxville project include a high-efficiency HVAC system, a solar reflectance roof coating, and water-efficient plumbing fixtures that result in a 32% reduction in water use. Recycled content totals more than 24% of all building materials, work stations and seating, while a quarter of all building materials were harvested or manufactured within 500 miles of the project. The project also features high efficiency lighting fixtures, daylighting and lighting controls, and renewable power sources generate more than 50% of the required power.

“One of our company goals is to transform the way the world understands business,” said Jason King, senior director of facilities and engineering at GMCR. “The passion we bring to creating great coffee is the same passion we put toward energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. We are proud to play a part in the green building movement because it closely aligns with our corporate values.”