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by Betsy Kraat
Metro Green+Business
Feb-22-2010
CHERRY HILL, NJ/PORTLAND, ME--TD Bank has announced it is the largest U.S.-based bank to go carbon neutral. TD Bank also unveiled the new "green" design for its future stores.
As part of its overall environment strategy, TD Bank reached its carbon neutral goal by building greener buildings, lowering its energy consumption, and making a significant investment in renewable energy from sources like wind, solar and low-impact hydro power. TD Bank has purchased a block of wind energy large enough to power its network of 2,600 ATMs. TD Bank has also purchased 31,000 metric tons of carbon offset credits to eliminate its remaining emissions.
TD Bank has pledged to develop LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified stores opening its first green prototype store in Queens Village, NY, at 214-32 Jamaica Avenue, targeted to open in the spring of 2010. The bank expects to open about five to 10 new green stores in 2010. In 2011, the vast majority of new TD Bank stores constructed will be LEED certified and all stores thereafter.
The bank has already opened LEED certified offices at 200 State Street in Boston, MA, and in 2010 plans to open a call center in Auburn, Maine, which it fully intends to LEED certify. LEED evaluates buildings for their overall environmental performance in five areas: sustainable sites, water use, energy efficiency, materials and resource use, and indoor environmental quality. LEED Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification; TD Bank is targeting LEED Platinum certification for its new Queens Village store.
TD Bank's new 3,800-sf prototype stores will reduce energy consumption by 50 percent compared to previous designs, with nearly 20 percent of the store's energy being produced onsite through solar panels and solar drive-thru canopies. The new stores will feature: wood from sustainably managed forests, products that emit little-to-no VOCs (volatile organic materials), walk-off mats and air filters that trap particles of dirt, dust and pollen for improved indoor air quality, insulated glass with a low-E coating to help keep a balanced, temperate environment, and sensors to control lighting. Stores will be maintained with green cleaning products, and will recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics and disposable batteries.
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