Penske’s goal when beginning the journey with LEED was to create an industry-first certified prototype for truck leasing and maintenance facilities using the LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD&C) New Construction and Major Renovations. The desire was to implement a solution that was highly impactful from a greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact standpoint, as well as a cost-savings perspective. Penske certified its first prototype in 2022, consisting of pre-approved standards and strategies, that can be applied across a set of several buildings within the portfolio that have major features and elements in common to pursue LEED credits.
What Is LEED Certification?
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a framework for identifying, implementing and measuring green building and neighborhood design, construction, operations and maintenance. LEED is a voluntary, market-driven, consensus-based tool that serves as a guideline and assessment mechanism. LEED rating systems address commercial, institutional and residential buildings and neighborhood developments.
Credits + Prerequisites
LEED has six different impact categories comprised of prerequisites and credits that allow for a project to create their certification strategy scoring between 40 to a maximum 110 points.
Certification Levels
There are four levels of certification available based on the number of points achieved and goals of individual projects. Penske assesses priority locations for certification goals based upon their market impact and location.
- Certified: 40-49 points
- Silver: 50-59 points
- Gold: 60-79 points
- Platinum: 80-110 points
Penske’s LEED prototype prescribes efficient processes, equipment and controls, water and resource efficiency measures, energy optimization and several healthy interior features. Some of the commonly implemented measures are described below.
Building Efficiency Features
Processes:
- Premium Air Compressors – Penske installed high efficiency variable speed air compressors used for pneumatics within the service bay. This system saves ~20% of operational costs compared to industry standard.
- On Demand Hot Water – Penske limits losses from domestic hot water tanks by providing hot water instantaneously as needed. This system operates at 92%-96% efficiency and saves ~15% of operational costs compared to LEED baseline.
- Electric Power Washers – Penske installs electric power washers that provide hot water when in use and eliminates standby losses from storage tanks. These systems also provide greater modulation control compared to equivalent gas systems and save ~20% of operational costs compared to industry standard.
Equipment:
- High Speed Low Velocity Fans – Penske provides high-speed, low-velocity fans that help recirculate air to improve thermal distribution. This improves comfort for building occupants, reduces heat loss through the roof and allows space conditioning equipment to operate more efficiently.
- Condensing Boilers/Radiant Floor – These highly efficient (92%-96%) systems provide better comfort to employees working in the service bay and are a more efficient delivery of thermal energy that is more evenly distributed throughout the space and helps reduce circulation of airborne contaminants such as dust.
- Efficient Heating/Cooling – Penske selects high-efficiency equipment that provides modulation control and heating and cooling operation that far exceeds code requirements. These systems contribute to ~20%+ cost savings and improve occupant comfort.
Lighting:
- Dark Sky Lighting – Penske has reduced light pollution by using exterior lamps meeting backlight, uplight and glare rating criteria defined by Illuminating Engineering Society and International Dark Sky Association (IES/IDA).
- LED Lighting – High efficiency LED lighting not only contributes to the building’s energy savings but also reduces toxic material, such as mercury, brought onto the building site.
- Task Lighting – Penske promotes occupants’ productivity, comfort and well-being by providing high-quality and controllable task lighting at desks. 90%+ of building occupants are provided dimmable lighting or multi-level task lights in their workspace.
Controls
- Thermal Comfort – Desk fans and accessible thermostats allow building occupants to control the temperature in their environment, promoting building productivity, comfort and wellbeing.
- Operations – Building-level tracking of water and energy usage allows Penske to manage their use of resources and identify additional opportunities for savings.
Healthy Interiors
- Ventilation Effectiveness – Penske meets and exceeds indoor air quality standards by designing ventilation systems providing plenty of cleaned outdoor air, contributing to the comfort and well-being of building occupants.
- Carbon Dioxide Monitors – Monitoring carbon dioxide levels ensures a healthy indoor environment for building occupants.
- High Quality Filtration – Highly efficient MERV 13 filters are used to filter out contaminants and improve indoor air quality.
- Entryway Protection – Entryway systems capture dirt and particulates entering the building, preventing contamination to the building’s indoor environment.
- Air Quality Testing – Indoor air quality is tested after construction, before occupancy, to protect human health, productivity and wellbeing. Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and ozone levels are measured to ensure occupant health.
- Smoke Free Building – Penske has a policy prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of the building to prevent exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces and ventilation air distribution systems to environmental tobacco smoke.
- Healthy Materials – Penske uses paints, coatings, ceilings, furniture and flooring with low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. This reduction of chemical contaminants protects occupant health.
LEED-Certified Facility Case Studies
Madison, Alabama
Certified on: June 2024
Certification Level: Certified (40/110)
Address: 25174 One Aviation Way, Madison, AL 35756
Services offered: Consumer and commercial truck rental, full-service truck leasing, contract truck fleet maintenance, voice-direction preventive maintenance, digital experience solutions.
Square Feet / Acreage: 15,750 square-feet
Features: Four pull-through service bays, automatic truck wash bay, full-service fuel station
Sustainability Savings Highlights
Water Efficiency
- 41% indoor water use reduction
- No outdoor irrigation
Energy & Atmosphere
- ~24.5% energy efficiency cost savings
- Committed to using 100% renewable electricity
Materials & Resources
- Dedicated onsite recycling
- Recycling of operational waste streams including batteries, e-waste, tires and used oil
Building Efficiency Features
Processes:
- Premium air compressors
- On-demand hot water
- Electric power washers
Equipment:
- High speed, low velocity fans
- Condensing boilers/radiant floor
- Efficient heating/cooling
Lighting:
- Dark sky lighting
- LED lighting
- Task lighting
Controls:
- Thermal comfort
- Operations
Healthy Interiors
- Ventilation effectiveness
- Carbon dioxide monitors
- High-quality filtration
- Entryway protection
- Air quality testing
- Smoke-free building
- Healthy materials
Akron, Ohio
Certified on: October 2023
Certification Level: Certified (43/110)
Address: 937 E. Waterloo Road Akron, OH 44306
Services offered: Consumer and commercial truck rental, full-service truck leasing, contract truck fleet maintenance, voice-direction preventive maintenance, digital experience solutions
Square Feet / Acreage: 23,816 square-feet on 9.85 acres
Features: Four pull-through service bays, automatic truck wash bay, full-service fuel station
Sustainability Savings Highlights
Water Efficiency
- 38% indoor water use reduction
- No outdoor irrigation
Energy & Atmosphere
- 36% energy efficiency cost savings
- 100% of the total building energy consumption is offset by green power, RECs and/or carbon offsets for a minimum of five years
Materials & Resources
- Whole-building life-cycle assessment completed
- Dedicated onsite recycling
- Recycling of operational waste streams including batteries, e-waste, tires and used oil
Building Efficiency Features
Processes:
- Premium air compressors
- On-demand hot water
- Electric power washers
Equipment:
- High speed, low velocity fans
- Condensing boilers/radiant floor
- Efficient heating/cooling
Lighting:
- Dark sky lighting
- LED lighting
- Task lighting
Controls:
- Thermal comfort
- Operations
Healthy Interiors
- Ventilation effectiveness
- Carbon dioxide monitors
- High-quality filtration
- Entryway protection
- Air quality testing
- Smoke-free building
- Healthy materials
Channahon, Illinois
Certified on: August 2024
Certification Level: Certified (90/110)
Address: 23400 S Frontage Road W, Chicago, IL
Services offered: Commercial truck rental, full-service truck leasing and contract truck fleet maintenance (digital experience solutions, voice-directed PM process).
Square Feet / Acreage: 22,752-square-feet on 13.4 acres
Features: Drive-thru bays with 10 service areas, automated wash bay, full-service fuel island
Sustainability Savings Highlights
Water Efficiency
- 41% indoor water use reduction
- No outdoor irrigation
Energy & Atmosphere
- 66.7% energy efficiency cost savings
- 56% renewable energy generation, by cost
- 100% of the total building energy consumption is offset by green power, RECs and/or carbon offsets
Materials & Resources
- 90.68% construction and demolition waste diverted from landfill
- Dedicated onsite recycling
- Recycling of operational waste streams including batteries, e-waste, tires and used oil
Building Efficiency Features
Processes:
- Premium air compressors
- On-demand hot water
- Electric power washers
Equipment:
- High speed, low velocity fans
- Condensing boilers/radiant floor
- Efficient heating/cooling
Lighting:
- Dark sky lighting
- LED lighting
- Task lighting
Controls:
- Thermal comfort
- Operations
Healthy Interiors
- Ventilation effectiveness
- Carbon dioxide monitors
- High-quality filtration
- Entryway protection
- Air quality testing
- Smoke-free building
- Healthy materials
