Nike’s LEED Platinum centre in China will cut CO2 emissions by 4,200 tonnes

Nike’s China Logistics Center is the country’s first LEED Platinum warehouse and will reduce carbon emissions by 4,200 tonnes per year, according to the US Green Building Council.

The 200,000-square-metre facility in Taicang, Jiangsu achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification in 2011 and is Nike’s largest distribution centre in Asia.

According to the USGBC, the facility will save at least 4,400,000 kilowatts of power annually by using energy-efficient lighting, on-site solar heating system, and access to natural light.

U.S. retail giant Nike sourced the majority of materials for the project from within 800km the site and used a variety of green building methods during construction.

The contractor for the project also recycled 97 per cent of waste product during construction, and 50 per cent of the wood products used were Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

Materials from the China Logistics Center are shipped to a nearby paper plant where they are recycled and the building is also designed to reduce annual water consumption by 80 per cent.

The building includes three synthetic ponds that accumulate runoff and rain water, which is used to irrigate plants and supplies water for emergency sprinklers in case of fire.