KPMG’s Denver office received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Commercial Interior certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for meeting LEED-CI performance standards.
To achieve the LEED Green Building Rating System for Commercial Interiors certification, buildings must have a design and construction that promote healthy, durable, affordable and environmentally sound practices in tenant space design and construction.
KPMG relocated its Denver office to Seventeenth Street Plaza last October, selecting the LEED-certified building and designing the new space according to comprehensive, LEED-CI-certification-oriented plan.
Milestones achieved during construction to achieve the certification included using materials manufactured in the region, using Energy Star-rated technology for a majority (90 percent) of the equipment and appliances, and setting up 75 percent of the office lighting fixtures to be controlled by occupancy sensors.
"At KPMG, we're focused on environmental stewardship,” said KPMG Denver office managing partner Michael Bearup, in a statement. “Our people, our clients and our communities expect KPMG to demonstrate leadership in sustainable business practices. This is the way that KPMG is working toward our goal of reducing gross greenhouse gas emissions per employee by 10 percent through calendar year 2015."
After construction, milestones to obtain LEED-CI certification included a 20 percent reduction in electrical lighting load, 20 percent less water usage, a two-year renewable energy contract that provides 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources, provision for safe disposal options for old batteries and electronics, and availability of recycling receptacles.
"Achieving LEED certification is an accomplishment that our employees take a lot of pride in," stated Bearup. "In collaboration with Seventeenth Street Plaza, we worked hard to design our office using concepts incorporating natural light, environmentally-friendly furnishings and technology to reduce our energy usage."
