TOKYO, JAPAN
Ohta Distribution Center
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AMB Property Corporation knows that going green isn't just good for the environment, it's good for business. The company's 2007 annual report states, "Delivering practical and sustainable solutions is good for the customers and makes our business stronger in the long run."
Practicing what it preaches, the company plans to bring rigorous LEED building guidelines to locations that have not yet seen much green development, thus expanding the geography of the trend. In the next several years, all new AMB buildings in the U.S., Asia and Europe are going to meet minimum LEED specification at least. AMB has the first silver LEED-certified speculative industrial development in the Southeastern U.S.
AMB has five LEED registered projects totaling more than 2.4 million square feet.
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Most of AMB's development is infill, which reduces the effect of construction on the surrounding community and environment by reducing sprawl and waste generated by spread-out construction. Multi-story, rather than one-story, industrial facilities also reduce the effect of the construction on the surrounding community and environment.
AMB's Senior Vice President and Director of Environmental and Development Services Steve Campbell describes the importance of infill as a means of supporting sustainability. "Industrial real estate companies can achieve greater returns in greening the supply chain at the macro level by moving distribution closer to the ultimate customer," he says. "Increasing site coverage by developing multi-story distribution facilities in urban infill areas near ports, airports and major transportation hubs reduces transportation impacts and increases the efficiency and competitiveness of the building."
In addition to creating new spaces with sustainability in mind, AMB has started retro-fitting existing buildings with energy-saving appliances and materials.
— Tara Anderson
