Case Studies

Businesses in the U.S. and abroad are experimenting with new systems, production methods, work spaces and more in the effort to remain competitive and environmentally responsible. Check out the results of their efforts.

Green Building

• 

  Malkin Properties: Empire State Building Window Retrofit

  With 6,514 windows to retrofit, the owners of the Empire State Building took up the challenge by rebuilding them on site.

• 

  Skanska USA: LEED Platinum Office Space

  Skanka's LEED Platinum build-out of their Empire State Building office makes the case for green and efficient commercial interior redesigns.

• 

  CenturyLink Field Event Center: Solar Roof

  Seattle's CenturyLink Field Event Center is building the largest solar installation in the state to cut its reliance on coal power.

Food and Agriculture

• 

  Swanton Berry Farm: California's First Organic Strawberry Farm

  Swanton Berry Farm paved the way for the strawberry growers and showed them how it's done -- flavor first.

• 

  Grgich Hills Estate: Cultivating Biodynamic Wines

  Biodynamic farming creates a market niche that appeals an increasingly interested consumer base.

• 

  OnEarth Report: Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops

  Big agribusiness is preparing to define sustainability for American food with an ambitious new environmental accounting method.

Products and Packaging

• 

  PepsiCo: Plant-Based, Recyclable Bottles

  After a decade of research Pepsico has created the first truly recyclable bioplastic bottle, conserving fossil fuels and reducing plastic and food waste.

• 

  Fireclay Tile: Recycling Toilets into LEED-Certified Tiles

  Thousands of pounds of porcelain toilets, bathtubs and vanity sinks are thrown away every year, but now they provide raw material for new products.

• 

  Puma AG: True-Cost Accounting Via an Environmental Profit & Loss Study

  PUMA's unique EP&L gave the company hard numbers on CO2 emissions and water use for environmental improvements.