Essays and photos from The Dirt, Patagonia’s Quarterly Employee Newsletter, May 2016
LEEDing The Way
LEED certification, the building standard for resource efficiency established by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), stands for ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED has revolutionized commercial construction by proving that greener building standards create healthier workspaces and that better-quality construction repays owners and investors over time.
The LEED standard was first introduced in 2000; at the time only 635 buildings worldwide met the criteria for certification. Today more than 74,500 commercial projects (not including homes, schools or government buildings) comprising 1.85 million square feet have been certified in more than 150 countries.
LEED did not yet exist when we built the first phase of our Reno Service Center in 1996, but we introduced several features that would become part of the standard. You’ll notice some on a visit to the restroom. The countertops (a brilliant tie-dye of sorts) are recycled, the sinks motion sensitive and the urinals waterless.
You won’t find many light switches either. The motion-sensitive lights in the dark aisles of the warehouse turn on as you walk in–and turn off shortly after you leave.
Visit the warehouse early in the morning on a hot summer day and you’ll notice the warehouse smells of cool, fresh air due to air intake vents that allow night air to enter the building and warm daytime air to escape.
The copper lines crisscrossing the ceiling supply radiant heat. And it’s always as bright in the building as the sun will allow: the skylights have a solar-powered motor that tracks the sun’s movement across the sky and allows as much light as possible into the building.
When we built out the Service Center’s second phase, in 2006, LEED had come into formal existence and we had accumulated the experience and confidence to seek certification.
The following summer we were granted certification at the Gold level. It was
a first for Patagonia, a first for our building’s contractor, and a first for the Reno area. Now several LEED buildings dot Northern Nevada. We’ve always been good at leading the way.
A Dive Into Our Dumpster
Hungry raccoons, rats, cats, and climbers on their way to the Sierra have all expressed their dismay. When it comes to dumpster diving at the Service Center, disappointment is in store.
Ninety-five percent of all the waste stream generated (by weight) in the warehouse is recycled. Most of the other 5 percent ends up either in our 30-yard dumpster or as compost. On average, the dumpster gets emptied twice a year. It’s no wonder the stray cats in the neighborhood lurk around the front door every day.
Cardboard and plastic thieves could have had better luck. We wrap bundles of both used materials in our compressor system and store them onsite until the prices per pound reach the high side, or until we run out of room to store them. At times the bundles can be worth as much as $700 each.
We do keep a small 3-yard dumpster for the more fragrant waste produced on-site that cannot be recycled or composted. It makes up a miniscule percentage of the total and is only emptied when necessary. If you’re a hungry climber on your way to the Sierra, we apologize. That dumpster we keep locked inside.
Our River As Teacher
Rivers have always been a part of my life. Growing up in Wisconsin we used to canoe in the summer, hunt in the
fall, play hockey on the ice in the winter and catch fish in the spring. I’ll always remember a time back around sixth grade when my friend Nathaniel and I got excited about tying flies. It still amazes me that we had the patience for it, and even more amazing that we used to catch bluegills on dry flies, like lightning bugs in a jar–a handful or more at a time.
I learned as a child that a river provides endless life lessons. So when we named our new child care program here at the Service Center the Truckee River Child Development Center (TRDC), it seemed the perfect fit.
My son, a firstborn, will arrive in the world by the time this story goes to print and I’ll be well into the flow of learning to be a parent. Having a place like the TRCDC for my son to learn his first lessons on the banks of the Truckee River is a dream come true. I can’t imagine a child-care situation that would make more sense to me as a parent or one more in line with the way I grew up.
I still keep those old flies I tied in an even older tackle box in the garage. I would never use them for fear they would disintegrate when cast into the water, but every time I look at them they remind me how the river is a source of life–and a great teacher. I’m glad my kid will know the Truckee, as a river and a place.
The Trukizo Canteen
Time was you wanted to get to work early for the best selection of Phil Otero’s Big Philly Burritos. They were wildly popular and usually sold out within a couple of hours. Phil, who works in custodial services and recycling here in Reno, made them at home maybe twice a week. So if you paid attention to his cooking schedule and got to work early enough, you were sure to have your pick. Each was individually wrapped, with its contents and price marked with Sharpie, and placed in a basket behind the receptionist’s desk with an
honor box.
In 2013, we finally made the big move beyond Phil’s delicious but sporadic burritos to open the full-service
Trukizo Canteen, inspired by Ventura’s legendary Aloha Café. We imported some of Ventura’s recipes, like braised organic short ribs with wasabi mashed potatoes, baby bok choy, and carrots with an orange ginger glaze. And we adopted their best habits. We support local farms, and include as many organic and biodynamic ingredients as possible.
We offer same-flavor protein from both meat and vegan sources, and enough choices to keep our gluten- and lactose- intolerant co-workers well-fed and happy. The garden on the east side of the building, managed by River School Farm, provides 25 percent of the produce. When kids in the Truckee River Child Care Center grow old enough to learn where food comes from, that garden will serve as an outdoor classroom as well.
