PHILADELPHIA, PA–Following more than a year of work, PECO recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Existing Building (EB) silver and gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for five local buildings.

In total, PECO now operates six LEED certified buildings representing nearly half of all LEED-EB certified buildings in Pennsylvania.

“In 2007 we launched a major environmental initiative for our company and our customers. The work at these sites is our demonstration of how important it is to take steps to reduce energy use and how those steps will pay off by reducing energy costs and helping the environment.”

Work at the sites included lighting and HVAC upgrades and control systems, replacement and retrofit of existing plumbing fixtures, conversion of turf grass to native meadows, increased use of environmentally-preferable office supplies, the adoption of a comprehensive green cleaning program, increased recycling, improved indoor air quality management, and the creation of a Green Champion employee volunteer team. In total the work will reduce energy use by 40 to 50 percent and water consumption by nearly 50 percent at each site.

In Chester County, PECO’s Berwyn Campus, consisting of 3 buildings, received Silver LEED-EB certification. One of only five LEED Existing Building Campus’ in the United States, the $895,000 investment also included the creation of a native meadow, improving local habitat and reducing storm water run off. About $300,000 in work at PECO’s Phoenixville Service Center also resulted in Silver LEED-EB certification. PECO’s Berwyn Campus and Phoenixville Service Building also are the first LEED-EB certified buildings in Chester County.

In Bucks County, PECO’s Warminster Service Building was awarded Gold LEED-EB certification. The $750,000 project also included the creation of a local native meadow, providing additional local habitat and reducing storm water run off. The facility is the first LEED-EB certified building in Bucks County.

“These awards highlight a tremendous effort by our project team,” said Denis O’Brien, PECO president and CEO. “In 2007 we launched a major environmental initiative for our company and our customers. The work at these sites is our demonstration of how important it is to take steps to reduce energy use and how those steps will pay off by reducing energy costs and helping the environment.”

“PECO’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of our mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and PECO serves as a prime example of just how much we can accomplish.”

These LEED certified sites join PECO’s West Chester facility, previously awarded Silver LEED certification for New Construction. Other environmental projects include the installation of a new Crown Lights messaging system at the company’s Center City headquarters, additional upgrades to secure LEED certification for 5 additional company buildings, throughout the region, the increased use of hybrid and biodiesel vehicles, and support for community and customer environmental and energy efficiency projects.

PECO’s environmental efforts contribute to and support Exelon 2020: A Low-Carbon Roadmap, the comprehensive environmental plan of PECO’s parent company. Exelon 2020 sets the goal of reducing, offsetting or displacing more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2020. The corporation will do this by reducing or offsetting the company’s carbon footprint, helping customers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and providing more low-carbon electricity in the marketplace.

PECO also offers many programs to help customers save energy, reduce their environmental impact and save money. PECO Smart Ideas, our full suite of energy efficiency and demand reduction programs, provides valuable information, incentives and rebates for residential and business customers. Programs include a home energy e-audit, discounted CFL bulbs in stores across the region, a refrigerator pick-up and recycling program, and other money saving discounts and rebates.

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United States Green Building Council

Nicholas Tamarin — Interior Design, 4/30/2010

A new report by the United States Green Building Council and national energy, housing, environmental, and real estate organizations is sounding the alarm on America’s building stock while citing the many ways in which the Obama Administration can step up on the energy efficiency and sustainability of America’s multifamily and commercial buildings.

Entitled “Using Executive Authority to Achieve Greener Buildings: A Guide for Policymakers to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Mulitfamily Housing and Commercial Buildings,” the study concludes that the current presidential administration has the unprecedented ability to use over 30 existing federal programs worth $72 billion to enhance efficiency in commercial buildings and multifamily housing with no new legislation needed.

The report was prepared by Washington, D.C.-based law firm Van Ness Feldman and sponsored by the Real Estate Roundtable, UDR, Johnson Controls, the Energy Foundation, Building Owners and Managers Association International, the American Institute of Architects, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, International Facility Management Association, Energy Future Coalition, and C3.

“As an early adopter of green buildings and the LEED green building certification system, the federal government has been a leader in bringing green buildings to cities and towns across America,” said Roger Platt, USGBC’s senior vice president of global policy and law. “This new report unveils an even larger opportunity for the Obama Administration to increase our nation’s energy efficiency, while creating thousands of jobs and saving taxpayers money.”

The report cites an extensive array of options which it says the Obama Administration could begin implementing immediately without having to seek new funds or authority from Congress. It states that some of the most promising options with the largest reach are reforming appraisal and underwriting practices at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; greening federal banking regulation; integrating energy efficiency and sustainability criteria into competitive grants and funding formula; strengthening minimum property standards for federal housing and economic development programs to reflect energy efficiency and sustainability standards; improving performance standards applicable to federal buildings and leases; and refining guidance applicable to the energy efficient commercial buildings tax deduction and the national historic preservation tax credit.

The full report can be downloaded at www.usgbc.org/government

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Reported by eFurniture for Office Furniture & Design on 5/4/2010

JASPER, IN (April 29, 2010) – National Office Furniture released its second annual report regarding its environmental and social commitments. National’s 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report is guided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) CSR Report Guidelines. The report summarizes National’s social and environmental progress, achievements and future initiatives with a focus on people, product, facilities and transportation.
“At National, we strive for continuous improvement in everything we do, from safety and transportation to environmental and education. Our actions have impact beyond our walls and that’s why our responsibilities to our employees, customers, communities and the environment are measured and play an integral role as we move forward as a company. We’re extremely proud to share these results and look forward to sharing more improvements on top of these next year,” Kevin McCoy, General Manager, National Office Furniture.

The CSR Report is only available online.

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Former President Bill Clinton on Thursday exhorted university officials from around the country to do a better job leading the way on making their campus buildings greener.

“For all the good we’re doing, we’re just piddling compared to what we ought to be doing and compared to what we could be doing,” Clinton told 250 college administrators meeting at the Palmer House Hilton.

“Think about it: 6.7 million jobs lost. And all this work out there is laying on the ground, begging to be done with an absolute certain high return. I am anxious to speed this up. For all the good you’re doing, we should be doing three, four, five, 10 times what we’re doing as a country.”

Clinton has become a crusader for environmental renovation as a catalyst for energy conservation and putting people back to work.

If solar panels or green roofs could be seen going up on campus roofs around the country, other builders would follow suit and put people back to work, helping fight unemployment as well as saving energy, Clinton told the receptive audience.

“Every time somebody sees a project on one of your campuses, fixing a building, you are having an impact, even beyond the fight to produce climate change and lower your utility bills,” Clinton said.

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