May 21, 2008 - Office Depot has gotten a thumbs-up from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on plans for a string of green retail locations under the new LEED Portfolio Program for multiple buildings.

The company has received the USGBC's first-ever LEED pre-certification based on master drawings for a new green-store prototype.

"What this means is that not just one store, but our core store prototype incorporates leading-edge green design principles," according to Yalmaz Siddiqui, director of environmental strategy for Office Depot.

The first Office Depot store to be built to this prototype, located in Austin, Texas, is scheduled to open late next month.