Emerson Global Data Center achieves LEED Gold Certification
St. Louis-based Emerson’s Global Data Center (GDC) has earned two industry recognitions for environmental responsibility: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the Washington-based U.S. Green Building Council and a 2009 Beyond Green High-Performance Building Award from the Washington-based Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC). The 35,000-square-foot Emerson Global Data Center, located on the company’s headquarters campus, supports Emerson’s worldwide manufacturing and engineering operations.
Emerson invested $50 million in the facility and incorporated several energy efficient technologies, such as precision cooling products. More than 80 percent of the construction waste generated was diverted from landfills through recycling, and innovative design features minimized the use of excess materials.
The data center is 31 percent more energy efficient than traditional data centers and is home to Missouri’s largest solar array — a 7,800-square-foot rooftop array of more than 550 solar panels, according to the company. “The LEED Gold certification — a rare designation for a data center — is a significant validation of Emerson’s commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility,” said Emerson Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President David Farr.
Emerson earned 40 out of a possible 51 points to receive LEED Gold certification. The company earned the SBIC award in the “Innovative Solution for a Niche Market Application” category. As part of SBIC’s Beyond Green award, the data center’s development will be published as a case study in the Whole Building Design Guide, a publication managed by the National Institute of Building Sciences, and in a feature article in ED+C magazine. “We are proud of the integrated approach we took to design and build a more environmentally responsible and energy-efficient data center for our global operations,” said GDC President Stephen Hassell.
St. Louis-based Fox Architects designed the data center and managed the company’s application for the LEED Gold designation. Additional information about the data center is available at www.EmersonDataCenter.com.
