Citi Reaches Milestone in 'Green' Building Program: 30 Citibank and CitiFinancial Branches Designed with Sustainable Features
Press Release, May 29, 2008
As part of its commitment to address global climate change, Citi announced that it is the first company to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pre-certification for a retail commercial interior prototype through a pilot U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) program.
New CitiFinancial branches in Austin, Texas, and Flint, Mich., and the Citibank financial center in Warrington, Penn., are the first Citi branches to be certified in this pilot program. An additional 27 CitiFinancial and Citibank branches were designed with the same features and are in the process of pursuing LEED certification.
"This is part of our approach to embed sustainable business practices throughout our operations – from our buildings to the supply chain to information technology," said Kevin Kessinger, Chief Operations & Technology Officer. "For Citi, green business is good business. It is an important part of being a responsible corporate citizen and operating the business efficiently."
The USGBC Portfolio Program, currently in pilot phase, focuses on the permanent integration of green building and operational measures – portfolio-wide – into the standard business practices of companies and organizations. The Portfolio Program recognizes market leaders who have committed to and achieved high levels of LEED certification within their portfolio.
"Citi is a true market leader in green building," said USGBC's Market Development Vice President Doug Gatlin. "And they should be commended for their achievement. By participating in the Portfolio Program pilot, Citi is taking action to rapidly implement green building practices across its portfolio to directly address global environmental challenges. The program is a tremendous step forward in our fight to slow climate change and reduce energy dependence."
The new CitiFinancial and Citibank branches use less energy and water and include environmentally friendly features, such as:
- low-flow plumbing fixtures
- energy-efficient office equipment
- lights that automatically turn off when rooms are unoccupied
- carpet, desks, seating, fabrics and cabinetry made from recycled materials
- furniture, finishes and construction materials that meet stringent indoor air quality emissions tests
- Green e-certified power to provide 50% of the electrical load at the Citibank branches for at least two years