Captain Morgan Barrel Warehouse in St. Croix Becomes First LEED Certified Facility in the US Virgin Islands

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo USVI today announced that its Captain Morgan barrel warehouse in St. Croix has been awarded the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification. The barrel warehouse is the first LEED certified facility in the USVI, as well as Diageo's first LEED-certified warehouse.

Developed by the US Green Building Council in March 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. The certification process evaluates all construction standards regarding sustainability and respect for the environment.

"We are constantly evaluating the efficiency and performance of our facilities and are proud to achieve the LEED Silver accreditation, the first ever in the USVI. This is an important milestone in our commitment to sustainability here in St. Croix," said Dan Kirby, Vice President, Diageo USVI.

The barrel warehouse was constructed with LEED certification principles. The design focused on leveraging the available natural light, reducing the power required light the interior.  Additionally, high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems and high performance indoor air quality are utilized. An effort was made to use building materials comprised of recycled content and with low-emitting materials. The warehouse is equipped with low-flow water fixtures and a cistern to capture and use rainwater in the irrigation system.

ABOUT DIAGEO USVI

In June 2008, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. and Diageo USVI jointly announced a public-private initiative for the construction and operation of a high capacity rum distillery on St. Croix, USVI. This 30-year commitment will provide a major economic stimulus for the entire Territory of the US Virgin Islands.

Today, all the rum used to make Captain Morgan branded products for the US market comes from the US Virgin Islands thanks to the innovative public-private initiative between the Government of the US Virgin Islands and Diageo USVI.  Captain Morgan is a global leader among premium spirits and is the second leading rum in the world.

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SOURCE Diageo USVI