Sustainability

Green is a way of life

The Merchandise Mart’s commitment to environmental sustainability spans several decades of dedication, research and hard work, including achievement of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) certification. This goal was achieved with assistance from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO).The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard developed by the United States Green Building Council for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

In the course of a single year, The Mart Center recycled more than 11 million pounds of waste, preserving 5.5 million gallons of water, and saving more than 13,000 trees. Through strategies recommended by the Clean Air Counts campaign, The Mart Center reduced 264,018 pounds of VOC pollution, setting the standard for reduction by a commercial office building, and 40% of Clean Air Counts’ goals. This was accomplished in part by switching from high-VOC to low-VOC cleaning products. Through these efforts, we were able to prevent 47,000 pounds of pollutants from entering the atmosphere.

The Mart Center is proud to make sustainability an ongoing priority. If the largest commercial building in the world with more than 4.2 million square-feet can become green, any building in this area can achieve this goal.

Here are some of the ways The Mart Center has integrated sustainable practices into the daily maintenance of our high-performance buildings:

• Comprehensive energy management plan continuously pilots new technologies and efficiency programs
• Green purchasing and cleaning policy requires use of cleaning products that meet high indoor air quality standards per the Green Seal third-party certification program
• Green site maintenance plan specifies drought tolerant plants to reduce water consumption and employs an integrated pest management plan to reduce harmful air and water toxins
• Updated Merchandise Mart Construction Standards Manual includes green specifications for all construction activity on the premises
• Expanded recycling program accommodates batteries, light bulbs and construction waste
• Adoption of the I-GO car-sharing program reduces the number of vehicles on the road