World-Leading Green Building Total Reaches 42 With Certification of 15 More
Branches
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Patent &
Trademark Office has granted a trademark for the term "Green Branch(R)" to
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), which has more
certified, environmentally friendly buildings than any other company on
earth.
"The trademark is affirmation of PNC's leadership in 'green' business
practices during the past decade," said Gary Saulson, director, corporate
real estate, PNC. "Our commitment to significantly reduce our impact on the
environment has enabled us to lower costs, increase efficiency and
productivity as well as enhance the communities where our customers and
employees live, work and play."
PNC, honored in Working Mother magazine's November issue as one of the
nation's "2007 Best Green Companies," is a nationally recognized leader in
environmental sustainability. The firm has more buildings (42) certified by
the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) than any other company - regardless
of industry. This includes:
-- Green Branch(R) locations: 40 environmentally friendly bank branches
across six states. This includes 15 branches recently granted
simultaneous Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
certification by the USGBC. The first location opened in 2002, when PNC
was the first U.S. bank to design and build green branches, which range
in size from 3,200-3,600 square feet.
-- PNC Firstside Center: 24/7 bank operations center in downtown
Pittsburgh with 1,500 employees. When it opened in 2000, it was the
largest, LEED-certified green building in the world at 650,000 square
feet (the equivalent of 12 football fields).
-- PFPC Headquarters: J. Richard Carnall Center in Wilmington, Del.,
headquarters of PNC's mutual fund processing division, opened in 2002
as the financial services industry's first Gold level, LEED-certified
green building.
-- Future Projects: Besides future branch locations, LEED certification
will be pursued for two major buildings in development: Three PNC Plaza
in downtown Pittsburgh is scheduled to open in 2009 as the nation's
largest green, "mixed-use" building (23 floors) with offices, retail, a
hotel and condominiums; and the new regional headquarters for PNC's
Greater Washington region to open in 2010, about one block from the
White House.
"Consumers want to do business with socially responsible companies and
PNC is leading the way in the banking industry," said Neil Hall, head of
retail distribution, PNC Bank. "We are combining environmental building
practices with innovative products and services to help our customers
achieve their goals."
A main reason for the federal patent office's approval of PNC's
trademark application is that financial and banking services are not
generally associated with environmentally friendly or ecologically
efficient characteristics.
"Our green efforts are completely consistent with our culture of
continuous improvement," Hall said. "As with other aspects of our business,
if there is a better way to do things, we want to find a way and implement
it."
Building the Green Way
Based in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Green Building Council is the
nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, federal and local
agencies working together to promote buildings that are environmentally
responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC
awards LEED certification based on points for construction and design.
Saulson, a winner of the USGBC's Leadership Award, said features of
PNC's Green Branch(R) locations include:
-- Recycling: More than 50 percent of each branch, including carpet and
furniture fabric, is made from recycled or "green" materials. For
example, cabinetry and office doors are made of wheat board, a
byproduct of wheat processing.
-- Energy & Water Efficiency: Energy usage is reduced 50 percent or more
compared to a traditional branch due to high-efficiency systems and
insulation along with maximum use of natural light, which also provides
a more open and airy space for customers and employees. Water usage is
reduced by 6,200 gallons a year.
-- Landfill/Waste Reduction: Construction waste, such as wood, steel and
cardboard, is recycled or salvaged, reducing landfill waste by 150 tons
per branch. Non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants are used in the cooling
system to protect the ozone.
-- Customer Features: The contemporary design also includes a concierge
desk with an employee to guide customers, minimum of four teller
stations and drive-thru, Internet Cafe, coffee bar and plasma screens
with business-related news and information.
PNC Bank is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
(http://www.pnc.com). PNC is one of the nation's largest diversified financial
services organizations providing consumer and business banking; specialized
services for corporations and government entities, including corporate
banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management;
asset management; and global fund services.
SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.pnc.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/701257.html/
CONTACT:
Patrick McMahon of The PNC Financial Services
Group, Inc., +1-412-762-2477, patrick.mcmahon@pnc.com
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