Fabri-Kal Corp.'s Kalamazoo plant has been honored for energy savings and environmental design with a LEED silver certification award.
Fabri-Kal bought the vacant, 400,000-square-foot plant and upgraded the site during the past two years. The company worked with Eckert Wordell, a Kalamazoo-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm to ensure total LEED compliance.
Fabri-Kal received top marks for water-efficient landscaping, water-use reduction, as well as the use of low-emitting materials like sealants, paints and adhesives. The firm also was cited for building reuse, maintaining 99.16 percent of the previous building's wall, floor and roof elements.
“Becoming LEED-certified took a major commitment from Fabri-Kal,” said Jason Navotny, senior associate at Eckert Wordell, in a news release. “They sourced many of their materials locally, therefore reducing carbon emissions of shipping, and optimized the building's energy efficiency by installing new [heating, ventilating and air conditioning] units and windows that reduce energy costs.
“With fewer than five LEED-certified buildings in the Kalamazoo area, Fabri-Kal should be very proud of the environmentally responsible steps they have taken to positively impact the community and planet.”
LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, was established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.
Fabri-Kal employs 800 at five manufacturing, printing and warehousing facilities throughout the U.S. The company ranked No. 6 in Plastics News' recent survey of North American thermoformers, with sales of $260 million.