by jbs050909 d3 — May 11, 2009—Citi, global provider of financial services, announced on Earth Day that it is the first company in the world to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for more than 100 retail branches.
Through the USGBC’s Portfolio Program, 114 “green” CitiFinancial branches now operate in 34 states in the U.S. Citi’s goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent from 2005 levels by 2011.
Under the program, CitiFinancial and Citibank North America branches are now being designed and built in accordance with a prototype, and each will achieve LEED certification using the same or similar environmentally friendly features. The new branches use less energy and water, and include sustainable features, such as:
- carpet, desks, seating, fabrics, and cabinetry made from recycled materials;
- furniture, finishes, and construction materials that meet stringent indoor air quality emissions tests; and
- low-flow plumbing fixtures, and energy-efficient lighting and office equipment.
Other major Citi projects that have received LEED certification include two Citi office parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a 15-story skyscraper in the New York City borough of Queens, new data centers in Georgetown, Texas, and Frankfurt, Germany, and several Citibank retail branches. For more information about Citi’s climate-related projects, see the 2008 Citizenship Report.
