Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) said today that its newly built banking stores will use about 20 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than conventional buildings of the same type. The Company also said it is one of the first to be pre-certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
"This is another example of our commitment to environmental stewardship, saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Carrie Tolstedt, head of Wells Fargo Community Banking.
Before pre-certification was available, buildings required a separate application, audits and fees to become LEED certified. Now with the pre-approved, design certification approach, much of the work is completed upfront. This saves time and money and helps to streamline the certification process in cities nationwide.
"Wells Fargo has been a large supporter of the green building movement throughout the years and was a pioneer participant in the USGBC Portfolio Pilot Program," said Rick Fedrezzi President, CEO & Founding Chair of the USGBC. "We appreciate their dedication as we set out to conserve energy and other natural resources through green building practices. Buildings are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions in the U.S., which directly impacts global climate change - however case studies show that LEED buildings are consuming half the energy of conventional buildings."
The Wells Fargo LEED pre-certified prototype includes:
-- 20 percent savings in energy use*, and accountability for energy consumption to assure projected savings over the life of the building
-- 40 percent savings in water use*
-- 20 percent of building materials composed of both post- and pre-consumer recycled content
-- 75 percent of wood-based materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from forests and factories that are managed in an environmentally responsible way; all wood is domestically harvested
*Compared to conventional buildings.
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $609 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest possible credit rating from both Moody's Investors Service, "Aaa," and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, "AAA."
Story Source: Business Wire
