LEED Gold Facility

Built in 2012, our Clackamas metal recycling facility has LEED Gold Certification (Pending Certification). This internationally recognized mark of excellence verifies high performance in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Our facility was built on previously developed land that had been contaminated by the former owners. We removed more than 1,750 cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris, replacing it with clean soil and gravel, rehabilitating the site and restoring its usability. Other key features of our facility are:

• An innovative Automobile Fluids Drain system removes hazardous fluids to minimize the risk of spills and contamination
• A light roof reflects 80% of the sun’s heat to keep the building cool in summer and minimize the impact on the microclimate
• Solar panels provide renewable energy to supplement the power and hot water to the building
• Interior lights are automatically turned off during non-business hours
• Daylight sensors dim the light in shared spaces, while work station lighting controls let employees use the least amount of light comfortable for them
• Low-flow toilets, urinals, sinks and showers reduce our building’s water use by 43.4%
• Native, highly adaptable plantings reduce the need to use clean drinking water for landscape irrigation
• On-site bicycle storage, changing rooms and showers, and preferred parking for low-emission vehicles and carpools encourage fewer employee vehicle trips
• Collection areas allow employees to recycle plastics, metals, paper, cardboard and glass