OREANDA-NEWS. The U.S. Green Building Council has certified that the administration building at Norfolk Southern’s Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility at McCalla, Ala., meets standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

“LEED certification of our new McCalla intermodal building, along with other design features of this and other facilities on our Crescent Corridor rail improvement project, underscores Norfolk Southern’s commitment to a sustainable business strategy benefiting our customers and the communities we serve,” said Blair Wimbush, NS vice president real estate and corporate sustainability officer.

The McCalla intermodal facility and two others recently constructed on the Crescent Corridor at Rossville, Tenn., and Greencastle, Pa., incorporate LEED best practices. Favorable environmental impacts include energy and water conservation, waste reduction, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improved indoor environmental health.

Norfolk Southern implemented additional environmental and health-related features as well. For example, NS equipped the McCalla facility with low-emission cranes and hostler tractors. The McCalla facility also features advanced gate and terminal automation technology that shortens wait time for trucks entering the terminal, improving driver productivity and air quality.