The Greenest Bank?

Your ratty old blue jeans may be stuffing the walls of a new banking center in Manhattan - and Bank of America anticipates receiving the highest certification for Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) for new construction because of it.

Last year, Bank of America announced its intentions to obtain Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) certification for all new offices and banking centers – and allotted $1.4 billion dollars to do it. As a result of this planning, the new Bank of America tower in Manhattan is projected to be the recipient of a Platinum LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council.

Bank of America’s new tower, designed by the consulting firm Gensler, features 64 photovoltaic solar panels that generate 18 kilowatts of power, and are expected to provide 60% of the building’s energy needs. Construction materials consisted of 20% recycled materials, including old blue jeans for insulation and countertops made of wheat kernels and chaff (byproducts of processing.) High efficiency windows and cooling systems, as well as reduced water usage features inside and out, round out the package.

The new tower in Manhattan opened last month, and Bank of America is scheduled to open another banking center, this one aiming for a Gold LEED certification, in Los Angeles this summer.

Via BoA Press Release

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written by Steve, February 02, 2008

I think you misread that press release. They were describing the steps they took for Platinum LEED certification at a branch they opened in Adelanto, CA this past December. The Bank of America Tower in Manhattan, which they are also going for Platinum certification on, is still not completed. When it is, being one of the tallest building in the country, it will require many times more electricity than can be provided from 18kW of solar panels.

Not greenest - but cool
written by Pelle, February 02, 2008

My bank's headquarters can be found in an old barn and they only lend my money to projects benefiting the environment... Maybe that's greener?

It's good that new building are built with the environment in mind - but building a new building takes a lot of energy too...

Bank of America Tower exhibit
written by Geri, February 02, 2008

For anyone in or visiting NYC, the Center for Architecture in Greenwich Village has just opened an exhibit on the Bank of America Tower that includes materials discussing LEED certification requirements as well as the construction of the Bank of America Tower. For more info: http://www.aiany.org/centerfor...itions.php
(disclaimer: I am an employee of the Center for Architecture, but as someone interested in sustainable development, this exhibition is very interesting)