Kum & Go Secures 100th LEED Certification
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Kum & Go LC received the company’s 100th LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its use of sustainable construction and design.
The 100th LEED-certified store is located at 11989 Hickman Road in Urbandale, Iowa, and achieved a LEED silver certification.
“This is a big milestone for us,” said Kyle Krause, CEO of Kum & Go. “Not only being recognized for achieving LEED status for the 100th time, but knowing the hard work that goes into becoming LEED certified is the right choice for our business and how we can best serve our communities while being good stewards of sustainability.”
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a points-based rating system that focuses on environmentally friendly design including: energy and water efficiency, sustainable site development, material selection and indoor environmental quality. Ranking levels include certified, silver, gold and platinum.
Kum & Go currently has 12 locations with gold-level certification, 57 with silver certification and 31 others that have been certified.
In December 2009, Kum & Go became the first convenience store in Iowa to receive LEED certification and was also the first to participate in the USGBC’s LEED Volume Program. The c-store chain has more LEED-certified stores than any other c-store chain in the world, according to the company. USGBC also ranked Kum & Go fifth in retail certifications.
Since 2011, all new Kum & Go stores like the Urbandale location are designed, constructed and submitted for LEED certification. Kum & Go LEED stores use 20 percent less water and 30 percent less energy than typical stores of their size. During construction, certified stores use 20 percent recycled materials such as steel and concrete.
“Having 100 LEED-certified stores is a huge achievement and a significant milestone for this company who has made sustainability leadership part of its DNA,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “We congratulate Kum & Go for this tremendous accomplishment and for demonstrating that convenience and sustainability go hand-in-hand. The company is a great role model for other retailers who want the operating benefits of high-performing buildings and the reputational benefits that go along with providing healthy, comfortable spaces for their employees and customers.”
A 3-D model of Kum & Go's sustainable practices is available here.
West Des Moines-based Kum & Go is the fifth-largest privately held and company-operated convenience store chain in the United States. It operates 430 convenience stores in 11 states, including Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.