Cherry Hill, N.J. — According to TD Bank, 200 of its U.S. stores have now been LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an important environmental milestone.
“TD’s continuing focus on expanding our number of LEED-certified stores reflects our commitment to a more vibrant planet with green buildings and operations that conserve energy and natural resources to reduce our carbon footprint in the communities that we serve,” says Jacquelynn Henke, sustainability and innovation director, TD Bank.
The 200th TD store in the U.S. to become LEED-certified is the location at 255 Nassau St. in Princeton, N.J., which recently achieved LEED Silver. TD started pursuing LEED certification for its U.S. stores in 2011 and received 12 certifications that first year.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is USGBC’s rating system to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design and operations. LEED evaluates buildings for their overall environmental performance in six areas: sustainable sites, water use, energy efficiency, materials and resource use, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design.
“We commend TD Bank for their commitment to our shared vision — to help build a sustainable, prosperous future through LEED,” says Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. “By certifying hundreds of retail locations, TD Bank consistently demonstrates the importance of prioritizing human and environmental health when designing and creating spaces for employees and customers alike. Their work to develop sustainable stores is a true sign of visionary leadership.”
The LEED-certified stores at TD showcase environmental features such as solar panels on drive-thru canopies; counters, carpets, furnishings and other products made with recycled materials; and low-VOC paint, sealants and furnishings. They also utilize green cleaning products and protocols. Some of the stores offer electric vehicle charging stations.
TD’s LEED stores include the first net zero energy bank location in the U.S., which opened in 2011 at 665 NW 62nd St. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. That groundbreaking store (pictured) features solar panels on-site and on the canopy over the drive-thru window to generate at least 100,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy per year.
The low-carbon initiative is part of The Ready Commitment at TD, which is focused on enhancing financing security; elevating the quality of our environment; creating opportunities for everyone to participate in their communities; and supporting more equitable health outcomes for all. To learn more, visit: https://newscenter.td.com/us/en/news/2018/introducing-the-ready-commitment.
Notably, the Princeton store, which opened in 2017, is also one of two TD stores (the other is in Bethesda, Md.) that is certified to the WELL Building Standard™, the first protocol to focus exclusively on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the design and operation of a building.
TD Bank is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. For more information, visit www.tdbank.com.
SOURCE: TD Bank