200 LEED Buildings For Bank: What Are Benefits?

PNC, a financial services bank, has just certified its 200th LEED building. Why the big push in LEED buildings for this company? They save on energy costs, boost productivity, and are customers' preferred place to bank, says Nana Wilbeforce, energy manager with PNC Realty Services Group, which maintains the buildings. In fact, the LEED-certified branches see $463,000 more deposits per paid employee per year than the non-certified buildings. The green buildings, with their increased sunlight, low-VOC materials, and pleasant lighting make employees more productive and draw more customers, he says. While others complain that the certification process is too timely and costly, he says the time and effort are worth it.