Bank of New York Mellon's facility in Everett, Mass., has implemented numerous sustainable building strategies that helped the company cut energy consumption by nearly 20 percent thanks in part to building-wide control systems, new operating methods and lighting automation.
BNY Mellon's building retrofit also included the addition of a 76-kilowatt rooftop solar array that will reduce the office's CO2 emissions by about 50 tons annually. The solar system will pay for itself in less than five years, while easing peak energy demand on the Everett grid. The solar installation was funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, together with state and federal tax incentives.
A water management program, including efficient fixtures and landscaping, reduced the building's water use by 34 percent. Other sustainable measures include recycling and waste management. The company also implemented a green cleaning policy, a sustainable purchasing program and an employee education program.
The 385,000-sq.-ft. office complex has earned Gold-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the existing building (EB) category. It also has achieved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR award for eight consecutive years.
BNY Mellon also climbed from No. 36 last October to No. 17 on the EPA's Green Power Partnership ranking.