By Nick Gilbert
Diageo USVI’s Captain Morgan barrel warehouse in St. Croix has bagged the USGBC‘s (US Green Building Council) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification. The barrel warehouse is Diageo’s first LEED warehouse and also the first one in the U.S. Virgin Islands to be awarded the certification.
LEED, developed in March 2000 by the US Green Building Council, offers a framework to builders and owners for spotting and implementing realistic and calculable green building design, maintenance and operation solutions. The certification process also assesses construction standards pertaining to sustainability and the environment.
The Vice President of Diageo USVI, Dan Kirby, said that the company is always in the process of evaluating the performance and competence of its facilities. This has led to achieving the first LEED Silver certification in the USVI, which is a significant milestone in the company’s effort to sustainability in St. Croix.
Keeping in mind the LEED certification principles and procedures, the barrel warehouse was constructed with design that focused on the minimization of electricity consumption. Natural light required to light the interiors was guided indoors for optimum use. Building materials, comprising low emitting materials and recycled content, were used during construction. Good performance heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HAVC) are utilized and the warehouse is fitted with low-flow water fittings and a reservoir to capture, store and use rainwater for irrigation.
At present, all the rum utilized to make Diageo USVI’s product Captain Morgan premium spirits comes from the US Virgin Islands.
Source: http://diageousvi.com