Peet's Alameda Roasting Facility Gets LEED® Gold!

July 30, 2008 - Pat O'Dea, Peet's Coffee & Tea President & CEO

Today we gathered to celebrate the LEED® Gold Certification of our artisan roasting facility.  On hand were David Gottfried, founder and first president of the U.S. Green Building Council, the Mayor and other officials from the City of Alameda, and our partners who worked with us to bring our building to life. Together, we recognized this great accomplishment and unveiled our LEED Gold plaque which is now on permanent display at the main entrance.

This achievement encapsulates a three-year journey that started with our decision to build a new roasting facility from the ground up.  Our vision is to be the gold standard specialty coffee and tea brand available to world.  And one of our most important values is to positively contribute to the communities and environment where we operate locally and globally. This led us to take a LEED-certified approach to the design and construction of our roasting facility.  As a result, the roasting facility is truly a physical manifestation of our vision and our values.

The U.S. Green Building Council recognized our effort to live our values in the building of the facility by awarding us the Gold Level LEED Certification., This makes our roasting plant the first LEED Gold certified commercial building in the city of Alameda and the very first LEED certified coffee roasting facility in the United States.

What is LEED?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria.  The six major environmental categories of review include:  Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design.  Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category.  LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities.

Why is this important?
Buildings in the U.S. use 40% of U.S. energy which means 10% of global energy.  There is a huge opportunity to curb the path of environmental degradation significantly by changing the way we build and operate buildings. In addition, it is simply "smart" design that saves money, energy, water, waste and makes for a nice work environment. 

Since many people, including builders and architects, have a limited understanding of what sustainable design and construction means, the LEED system provides a common platform for everyone. Having well known, respected companies like Peet’s involved with LEED is paramount to showing the public that green can be accomplished economically – even in a roasting facility!

Below are just some of the areas where points were achieved resulting in our Gold Certification:

• Dedicated parking for low emissions vehicles and car pools
• Located close to mass transit – Ferry, Bart, AC Transit bus shuttle bus
• Bike racks, showers and locker rooms for Peetniks
• 100% storm water runoff thru bio-swales and not directly into storm sewers or the bay
• Water efficient landscaping using 87% less water than base case
• Used recycled materials in landscape including mulch, cocoa husks, coffee chaff and bark
• 40% less water use in plant using low flow shower and faucet heads, dual flush toilets and waterless urinals
• Over 20% of materials used in construction from local and regional sources
• Diverted over 75% of construction waste from landfill; Most of the form lumber was reused from previous jobs or reused on subsequent jobs
• Energy efficient lighting and controls saving 40% energy vs. traditional lighting
• Total energy savings beat California Title 24 by 32%
• Use of sky lights and side lighting for natural light
• Utilized heat exchanger technology to recover and reuse heat generated in roasting process resulting in 40% less natural gas used. We are the only roasting plant in North America with this technology
• Carpet, paint, office furniture used in office areas were low/no emitting VOC LEED approved materials
• High efficiency HVAC systems and latest refrigerant technology for energy efficiency and to minimize environmental impact

Our roasting facility is an expression of our vision, mission and values. It has been designed to produce the highest quality coffee and teas in the world, and do so in away that positively contributes to the local community. We are honored to receive this extraordinary recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council, and to be the only LEED certified Gold roasting facility in the U.S. This is something our entire Peet’s family of employees and customers can take great pride in.

Last but not least, this project would not have been possible without the dedication and tireless leadership of Jim Grimes, our vice president operations and his team, including Bob Pires, and Raymond Sohnlein. We are also eternally grateful to all of the people and organizations that came together with us in a team effort to make this possible:

• SRM Associates
• FME Architecture & Design
• JM O'Neill Construction
• April Phillips Design Works
• SEI Structural Engineers
• Kier & Wright
• Ibsen/Sentry Architecture & Design
• KEMA Green
• City and County of Alameda
• PG&E

Pat O’Dea    

To learn more about LEED, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED
Take our artisan roastery tour.  Visit http://tour.peets.com

Comments

[Ruth Dasilva-Marshall]

Gere of Alameda Peet's is the best!!!! Decided to have a 2nd cappuccino last evening and it was not the same because Gere didn't make the 2nd cup!!!

[franchise-coffee.net]

"Having well known, respected companies like Peet’s involved with LEED is paramount to showing the public that green can be accomplished economically" Such as great way to roast great coffee while helping others worldwide.

FCN
http://www.franchise-coffee.net

[@P0_P0]

Are you on Twitter yet?

[Marina Furlan]

Is there any Peets in Sweden, Stockholm.

[Gary Von E]

I just got an email from Peets stating that a cup of Peets coffee costs about 70 cents. My Peets costs half that. I drink americano. I grind 13 grams of beans and pull a long double shot (2.7oz). I dilute that with hot water from my machine to make 8oz. I am a chemist and have made coffee in more ways than I can remember. Most lab chemists are fueled by caffeine! Americano makes the best coffee by far. After all the other methods I tried, cone drip makes the next best. Speed is the key to good coffee, so I use finely ground coffee in a paper cone filter placed in a gold screen cone in a regular Melitta cone. I use that method if I'm making more than two cups. If I'm sharing with one friend, I pull two long 1.3oz shots at the same time and dilute them in two 6oz cups to whatever strength my friend enjoys. There's my method worked out over 30 years of drinking custom roasted coffee. I started with the Allan Bros in Corvallis, OR (now 10 miles east in Albany) in the mid-70's, moved to Seattle where I drank Starbucks, Tullys and various small roasters until a friend moved to Berkeley and recommended Peets. Peets is all I drink now. JR Blend is my personal favorite. JR costs me $1.35 per cup and worth it! Thanks for reading!

[Gary Von E]

I just got an email from Peets stating that a cup of Peets coffee costs about 70 cents. My Peets costs half that. I drink americano. I grind 13 grams of beans and pull a long double shot (2.7oz). I dilute that with hot water from my machine to make 8oz. I am a chemist and have made coffee in more ways than I can remember. Most lab chemists are fueled by caffeine! Americano makes the best coffee by far. After all the other methods I tried, cone drip makes the next best. Speed is the key to good coffee, so I use finely ground coffee in a paper cone filter placed in a gold screen cone in a regular Melitta cone. I use that method if I'm making more than two cups. If I'm sharing with one friend, I pull two long 1.3oz shots at the same time and dilute them in two 6oz cups to whatever strength my friend enjoys. There's my method worked out over 30 years of drinking custom roasted coffee. I started with the Allan Bros in Corvallis, OR (now 10 miles east in Albany) in the mid-70's, moved to Seattle where I drank Starbucks, Tullys and various small roasters until a friend moved to Berkeley and recommended Peets. Peets is all I drink now. JR Blend is my personal favorite. JR costs me $1.35 per cup and worth it! Thanks for reading!

[Matthew Airey]

Peet's,
Please be a leader-

I would like to introduce Peet's to SoyPrint. An average toner cartridge for laser printers uses 2 liters of oil to make just the toner. SoyPrint uses oil derived from soybeans instead of petroleum. We at SoyPrint are excited about not only being the first to bring this product to market but also being involved with the environmental impact. As you probably already know the soybean oil that is derived to make our toner is a bi-product. The actual bean is most commonly grown for meal for animals. The soy-oil is often discarded, so we are excited to be able to use it for printing instead of petroleum. With our nations diminishing oil reserves, we need to use alternative means for oil- SoyPrint is one of them.

Do you think anyone in the administration would want to know more about SoyPrint? Peets could be one of the first to implement this sustainable way of printing. Procurement throughout the country is interested in more environmentally friendly products to invest in. Thank you for your environmental efforts thus far, together we could help save thousands of barrels of oil through printing in a sustainable manner.


With Respect,
Matthew Airey
Business Development Manager
matta@soyprint.net
Voice: 207-642-9700 ext. 108
Cell: 207-776-0747
Fax: 207-642-7000
PRC Technologies, home of SoyPrint cartridges.
Everyone prints black, but now we can print "green"!

[Suzanne]

Oh Happy Day. I have waited 20 years for a Peet's by my home! It was worth the wait. Cappmama welcomes Peet's Fair Oaks to the neighborhood.

[Drinker Sincethesixties]

Why did Peets email not warn us that prices would be increasing by nearly 10% ?!

[Russ Ferreira]

As a loyal Peet's customer for 20 plus years,
I was most disappointed to hear that, despite the price of coffee going down worldwide, Peet's is planning on raising prices next month. Can this be true?.
Perhaps the salesperson with whom I spoke was mistaken.

[Russ Ferreira]

Is it true tha Peet's will be raising their prices beginning in November?

How can this be?
I just read a report that the price of coffee is DOWN worldwide?!!
I've been a loyal Peet's customer since 1973. This is not good.

[Trited]

Congratulations on thinking ahead and on your business's role in contributing to addressing Global Climate Change & reducing your carbon footprint. Now, I encourage Pete's to consider this question: can you take even more steps? Is this a commitment to a new paradigm? Will you consider starting onsite worm composting for the facility & employees as a way to reduce food waste going to landfills or to help recycle coffee/tea waste? Do you have employee incentive programs to reduce car/vehicle commute use and reward use of public transit or, even better, Bicycling to work? How about on your delivery truck miles, are you trying to use or convert diesel trucks to biodiesel? Businesses like Pete's can drive the demand for alternative fuels by buying biodiesel, and biodiesel ready vehicles or contracting with trucking companies that will commit to using biodiesel. So do you have plans to install photovoltaics in the existing parking lot or on top of the building to offset current and future electricity needs? Or at least commit to purchasing 100% clean energy? How about the landscaping, are you planting native deciduous trees along the SW side of the building to reduce solar gain in summer, reduce air conditioning demand and to absorb more atmospheric CO2? Also planting native flowering plants and seed trees benefits habitat conditions for migratory native birds and pollinators in urban environments where their native habitat has been highly disturbed and altered. It is also proven in psychological studies that people are happier, more satisfied, and more productive at work when they are surrounded by pleasant outdoor natural landscapes that they can walk/sit in. I applaud all the water conservation measures and urban runoff controls that are designed into the landscape, this helps keep the local aquatic bay & stream environments healthier. And in urban environments this is critical. I encourage Pete's HQ to look into partnering or supporting local Alameda & Bay Area Watershed Groups and getting staff involved in local watershed restoration efforts and creek cleanups (contact Alameda Creek Alliance for more info on opportunities locally). Thank you to Pete's & Mr. Grimes & his team for setting a good and important example for the community, their own employees and to other businesses. And also for taking their own responsibility for the kind of impacts we all have on the environment in every decision we make every day. I will now, even more than before, enjoy patronizing Pete's and using my dollars to vote for their business model. So to Pete's management, don't just let it stop at the new building, continue to encourage new behaviors and environmental awareness and resource conservation strategies every day and every way! Own the problem, commit to the solution.

[Julie Merholz]

Congratulations. Do you roast all of your coffee at the Alameda plant? Are you going to give tours? A job well done.

[Bill Silvers Wendell]

Hi, My first time to visit blog.
Great, I am a coffee lover from way back. I
like French Roast , expresso grind.
see-ya later. Bill S. Wendell

[Christine Thresh]

Friday, August 08, 2008
Friday Flashback – Peet’s
We knew Alfred Peet in 1966 when he opened his first store at Vine and Walnut in Berkeley. His very close friend, Kay, lived just down Walnut Street and we lived in a cottage behind. Alfred introduced us to good coffee.

I painted the first sign for the store using the old logo (see above) on butcher paper to hang in the window. He didn’t really think a sign was necessary – “build it and they will come.” He was right.

There were four or five stools at a counter. The emphasis was on retail sales of coffee beans, tea, coffee makers, grinders, and spices. Yes, spices. The original logo read “Peet’s Coffee, Tea, & Spices.”

We loved his hot curry powder – the hot, not the medium or mild. One evening Kay was preparing dinner for us all and Alfred started adding things to the pot. He put in three or four tablespoons of hot curry powder. I was sure I would not be able to eat the meal, but to be polite I took a small portion. It was so good! I’d been raised on grocery store curry powder and you dared not use too much of that. But Alfred’s blend could be used in large quantities. I am pretty sure he learned to make it when he was in Indonesia on a tea plantation.
This little container has the very last bit of his hot curry. The stores discontinued spices when they expanded. I am saving (hoarding) the powder, perhaps for my last supper. I’ve tried all sorts of expensive supposedly authentic curry mixes, but they just are not the same. If anyone knows where to find Peet’s recipe I will be so happy.

Of course we used a Chemex coffee pot back then. We used lots of Chemex pots over the years because they broke easily. We also bought a Chemex hand blown water kettle. I think it is a marvelous looking thing. I dare not use it because I don’t want to break it.
One year we set up a mini factory and made tea sampler boxes. The small boxes were made to look like the large lead-lined and sealed tea boxes which importers sent filled with loose tea.

Green coffee beans came in large sacks to Alfred’s back-of-the-store roasting room. Some of the sacks were made of rough fabric but a few were made of heavy-weave cotton. We are still using one of the cotton coffee sacks as a laundry bag.

[Angie Chang]

Thanks for providing examples of how the Peet's roasting facility meets LEED standards, and CONGRATS on beineg the 1st LEED certified coffee roasting facility in the US. Looks like a great place to work!