If you could take a green-grass site and build the ideal plant that would marry the goals of environmentalism and operational efficiency, you’d probably come up with something like the new Mission Linen Supply plant in Newark, CA.

This—to our knowledge—is one of a very small number of commercial laundries that’s pursuing certification through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Qualifying for Silver LEED certification requires building owners to meet strict requirements designed to ensure maximum sustainability in terms of energy and water use, waste-management practices and much more ...