Green Development

Port Sustainability and Terminal Development

As a recognized international leader in environmental stewardship, the Port has taken the initiative on many fronts to reduce its environmental impact, protect the community and harbor wildlife, engage and educate the community and promote sustainability in its operations and in developing its terminals.

As part of its Green Port Policy, the Port has made the commitment to maximize sustainable practices in developing its terminals. That includes a commitment that all new buildings constructed by the Port will meet the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) standards, known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED.

This move toward sustainable practices in terminal development is firmly supported by the Port of Long Beach and its governing body, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Terminal Development Sustainable Practices

These sustainable practices have been used by the Port in terminal developments.

LEED for new construction
Recycling of demolition debris
Using of construction materials with recycled content
Controlling types of fuel used in construction equipment
Minimizing ocean water pollution

In developing its green buildings, the Port is using the LEED Green Building Rating System, which is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the USGBC, representing all segments of the building industry, developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.

Buildings designed to LEED standards include features and equipment that save water and energy, improve indoor air quality, and encourage sustainable commuting such as carpooling and use of low-emission vehicles. LEED standards encourage recycling of demolition materials, using cleaner fuels in construction equipment and building with recycled-content construction materials.

The LEED certification system was created to:

Define "Green Building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
Stimulate green competition
Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
Transform the building market

The LEED program, which has become an internationally recognized green building certification system, provides third-party verification that a building was designed and constructed using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: site development, water efficiency, energy savings, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum levels in LEED.

Sustainable Port Terminal Development Projects

The Port has embarked on renovating its older terminals to promote efficiency and sustainability while enhancing its economic competitiveness. The Pier G Terminal Redevelopment Program led the trend, and included several first-time initiatives -- recycling of nearly all demolition materials, shore power for the container trade, and a commitment to construct green buildings. The Port is constructing several buildings seeking LEED certification as part of the Pier G Redevelopment Program. One of the buildings, the Pier G Operations Building, is near completion.

Pier G Terminal Redevelopment Program