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Publish Date : 22-Mar-2014

The Union Bank building located at 350 California Street, has been awarded LEED Gold Certification for an existing building (LEED EB Gold) from the Green Building Certification Institute under the standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council. Union Bank has joined the group of 83 office properties that have achieved LEED EB Gold or higher in San Francisco; a certification which validates that environmental best practices have become standard procedure at the property.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. It provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest measures of green building and performance.

"Union Bank's LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "The urgency of USGBC's mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Union Bank serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish."

"We are proud to receive such an important recognition as the LEED Gold Certification for our building in the heart of San Francisco's financial district," said Ryan Bjorkquist, vice president in Union Bank's Environmental Stewardship Department. "Union Bank is committed to reducing our environmental impact in the communities that we serve and this award demonstrates our continued dedication to that effort."

LEED certification of the building was based on a number of green design and construction features, as well as policy changes that positively impact the building, its occupants, and the broader community including:

The property's ENERGY STAR score of 87, which places it in the top 15 percent of all comparable office buildings nationwide;
Documentation of a robust green cleaning program;
90 percent of furniture purchased on a cost basis to meet sustainability standards;
Creation of a low-mercury lamping plan; and
Completion of operational audits and surveys related to indoor air quality, cleaning effectiveness, and occupant commuting.

"Union Bank is committed to managing its facilities in a sustainable way and identifying opportunities to invest in energy efficiency improvements and operating practices that will positively impact the environment," said Brian Moore, Union Bank vice president and facilities management program manager. "We are finding that improving sustainability in the bank's buildings not only helps reduce operating costs but also increases our employees' well-being and engagement."

The improvements to the facility were implemented by Union Bank's facilities management team, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE), a commercial real estate services and investment firm.

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