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
Citi is committed to achieving environmental certification globally for all new office buildings and operations centers and to evaluate existing larger facilities as a critical part of Citi's pledge to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 10% by 2011. Last October, Citi reached a significant milestone in its green building program by earning its first LEED certification for its newly constructed office parks in Irving and Las Colinas, Texas, and has since been awarded LEED Gold certification for a new 15-story skyscraper in New York City at Two Court Square in Queens. In addition, Citi has registered several additional projects, including new data centers in Texas and Frankfurt, Germany, with the USGBC to pursue LEED certification.
Take a Virtual Branch Tour
To take an online, virtual tour of a LEED-certified branch, go to http://www.citigroup.com/citigroup/press/2008/080529a.htm.