A Dozen PNC Bank Branches Earn LEED Certification

By GreenerBuildings Staff
Published October 14, 2008

Architecture & Design

;

Your Email: *

Your Name: *

Send To: *
Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.

You are going to email the following: A Dozen PNC Bank Branches Earn LEED Certification

Message Subject: (Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from GreenBiz.com®

Message Body: (Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from GreenBiz.com®.

Your Personal Message: *

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Twelve Green Branches of the PNC Financial Services Group have received LEED certification, bringing the firm's total of eco-friendly buildings to 55.

In announcing its achievement, the Pittsburgh-based diversified financial services company said it now has the most buildings certified under the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The company opened its first environmentally friendly building, the LEED Silver-rated PNC Firstside Center in Pittsburgh in 2000, and in 2002 began requiring that construction of all new and renovated retail branch offices meet green building standards.

The firm said its Green Branches are 34 percent more energy efficient and use 4,000 fewer gallons of water each year than traditional buildings. Elements contributing to the reduction include glass that is three times more efficient than conventional panes, an emphasis on natural lighting, HVAC systems that use 35 percent less energy, highly reflective roofing materials, solar shades and a roof design with projections that shield the interior from direct sunlight without impeding illumination, and use of drought-resistant plants in landscaping.

Locally manufactured, recycled or green building materials account for half the material used to construct the buildings, according to the company. The paints, adhesives, caulking and other substances used do not add to greenhouse gases, and green cleaning procedures and products are used at the sites, the firm said.

The new certified PNC branches are in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In September, the U.S. Department of Energy named PNC among the 21 companies that will participate in the agency’s Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative. The firms are to work with two national labs to help create prototypes for the program.