Aug. 1, 2008 - Peet's Coffee and Tea has nabbed gold level status from the U.S. Green Building Council for the first-ever LEED certification for a coffee roastery.

The plant in Alameda, Calif., boasts a redesigned heating system that recovers enough heat from the roasting process to cut overall gas consumption by 85%. Other green features include:

• Natural lighting and energy-efficient fixtures that, taken together, cut energy use by 40%.
• Low-flow plumbing (such as waterless urinals) and water-efficient landscaping that reduce water use by more than 50%.
• Preferential parking for fuel-efficient vehicles and bicycle storage to encourage greener commuting among employees.
• Resource-efficient construction processes that diverted 75% of building waste from landfill.

To achieve LEED certification, a company must prove sustainable design and construction in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.