Environment in the news
Thirty-One Union Bank Branches Earn the Energy Star Certification for Superior Energy Efficiency
One of the Largest Concentrations of Branches Earning Distinction Among Leading California-Based Financial Institutions
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Jane Yedinak
(415) 765-3241
jane.yedinak@unionbank.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 3, 2013 – Thirty-one Union Bank, N.A. retail branches throughout California have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR™ Certification, the national symbol for energy efficiency, saving money, preventing the release of greenhouse gases, and protecting the environment. Union Bank has one of the largest concentrations of branches earning this distinction among financial institutions in the state in 2012.
“Union Bank is committed to operating a responsible and environmentally sustainable business,” said Vice President and Environmental Specialist of Union Bank’s Environmental Stewardship Department Kim Luu. “The Energy Star designation serves as a national mark of excellence in energy performance. We are pleased to be recognized for our company’s commitment to the environment as we identify more ways to extend our commitment in the communities that we serve.”
The EPA’s Energy Star program evaluates actual whole building energy data and normalizes for building use characteristics such as its age, size, location, number of occupants, number of personal computers, etc., to determine a 1-100 score for certain space types. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR Certification, a building must have a score of 75 or higher, indicating that a building is performing better than the 75th percentile of its peer buildings.
“We are honored to receive the Energy Star distinction for our community bank branches in recognition of our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Union Bank Executive Vice President Michael Feldman, head of Branch Banking. “Union Bank strives to help build healthy communities through our bank operations as well as the products and services that we provide to our customers.”
The 31 Union Bank branches improved their energy performance by managing energy strategically across their entire organizations and making cost-effective improvements to their buildings.
Union Bank Branches receiving Energy Star certification:
Apple Valley
Barstow
Bayside (Newport Beach)
Carlsbad
Cerritos Center (Artesia)
City Heights
Coronado
Eastlake (Chula Vista)
East Village (San Diego)
Fallbrook
Foothill Ranch
Fountain Valley
Fourth & Laurel (San Diego)
Garden Grove
Glen Avon (Riverside)
Glendora Hesperia
La Habra
Manhattan Beach
National City
Oceanside
Phelan
Poway
Riverside Downtown
San Bernardino
Santee
Sorrento Valley (San Diego)
South Bay (Torrance)
South Gardena
Tustin
West Hollywood
To learn more about Union Bank’s commitment to the environment visit Environmental Sustainability.
About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $97 billion at March 31, 2013. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 443 branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, and New York as well as two international offices, on March 31, 2013. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, NYSE:MTU), one of the world's largest financial organizations. Visit www.unionbank.com for more information.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficient specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.