Commercial, Energy Efficiency, Sourcing Renewables  -  May 23, 2023

Amazon's New HQ Uses Climate-Friendly Solutions at Scale

Amazon offers a look at its second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, which features sustainability principles embedded throughout its design.

The soon-to-open campus at Metropolitan (Met) Park, which will run with zero operational carbon emissions, was built using climate-friendly solutions at scale, such as low-carbon concrete, electrified energy-efficient operations, and landscaped roofs with native plants.

The campus provides many benefits: 100% renewable energy; 24% savings on energy; 20% reduction in the carbon footprint of its concrete structures, thereby saving over 14,700 metric tons of carbon; and certification as Targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum—the highest level of LEED certification.

Amazon used low-carbon concrete mix design, experiencing a 20% reduction of its carbon footprint in its concrete structures.

The company also electrified its operations, with its HVAC systems, water heaters, and food service equipment powered by electricity. Additionally, Met Park will be powered with 100% renewable energy from a solar farm in Virginia.

Amazon seeks to decarbonize its real estate portfolio in order to fulfill its Climate Pledge commitment.

“While it’s not always necessarily visible to our customers or communities, we’re working to decarbonize all of Amazon’s buildings, including our corporate offices, data centers, and fulfillment facilities, given the climate impact of the built environment,” said Kara Hurst, Vice President for Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon, in a statement. “At HQ2, we challenged ourselves to push the limits of what’s possible when it comes to sustainable construction and design, and we’re proud to share these features with the northern Virginia community.”

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