United Natural Foods Inc.'s 319,000-square-foot distribution center that serves New York State, New Jersey and New England recently won Energy Star status as an energy efficient building, the firm said Monday.

To do so, the facility in Chesterfield, N.H., had to score in the top 25th percentile of the EPA's National Energy Performance Rating System by attaining a score of 75 or higher.

In listing components and attributes that enabled the distribution center to make the cut, UNFI pointed first to its lighting.

The company used energy efficient, motion-activated T-8 lighting in the full-case warehouse area of the facility and motion-activated T-5 lighting for its repack mezzanine.

{related_content}UNFI also made improvements to the HVAC system, including upgrading the duct systems and replacing the air conditioning unit serving the main office area.

More than 500 people work at the center, where 30 percent of the floorspace is served by mechanical cooling equipment. The site also uses paperless "pick-to-light" technology, which markedly reduces the amount of paper used in order processing.

UNFI, headquartered in Providence, R.I., is a leading independent distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products in the United States.

Image courtesy of UNFI.