by Shane Henson — January 18, 2013—PNC Bank is fast becoming known for its commitment toward sustainability, as well as for providing its customers with top-notch financial services. According to the company, one of the United States’ largest diversified financial services organizations, it is set to open a new net-zero energy bank branch.
PNC expects this new branch, which is the company’s most energy-efficient, to use 50 percent less energy than a typical bank branch and exceed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification. The 4,900-square-foot building is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
PNC says it has a commitment to green construction and claims it has constructed 119 LEED-certified buildings—more than any company on Earth. The Fort Lauderdale branch features innovative green technology and amenities, including 211 solar panels, a riverfront walking path for the public, paving designed to reduce rainwater runoff, high-efficiency light-emitting diode (LED) lights, and ENERGY STAR appliances. Many of these money-saving features will become standard in the next generation of PNC’s green buildings, says the company.
The branch will also include:
- Solar Energy: The branch is powered by the sun using the most efficient photovoltaic (solar) panels on the commercial market.
- Daylight and Occupancy Sensors: The branch uses photo-sensors that control dimmable light fixtures as natural sunlight increases, and occupancy sensors that prompt lights and computer monitors to shut off automatically in unoccupied spaces.
- Direct Current (DC) Power: Solar panels send energy from the sun to a DC ceiling grid system that powers highly efficient LED interior lighting. This direct transfer of energy prevents the energy loss that would normally occur when converting DC to alternating current (AC).
- Resource Conservation: PNC used local and recycled resources for building structure and wall materials, as well as interior finishes. Products made with more than 80 percent recycled material were also selected for all ceiling tiles and walls.
- Native Plants: The landscape design is comprised of native Florida species, minimizing irrigation needs. Natural drainage channels lined with plants filter out pollutants and permit ground absorption, diverting much of the site’s stormwater from municipal sewer systems.
- Solar Shading: A canopy covers the building’s southern exposure to reflect sun during the hottest part of the day without preventing natural daylight from entering the building, resulting in reduced cooling costs.
- Water Efficiency: Through highly efficient water fixtures, the branch consumes 40 percent less water for interior use than a conventional building.
- Waste Management: 98 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills. In addition, branch staff recycle all paper, as well as cardboard, plastic, glass and metal containers.
