Environment in the news

For Immediate Release

Jane Yedinak 
(415) 765-3241 
jane.yedinak@unionbank.com 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 20, 2014 – The Union Bank building located at 350 California Street, has been awarded LEED Gold Certification for an existing building (LEED EB Gold) from the Green Building Certification Institute under the standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council. Union Bank has joined the group of 83 office properties that have achieved LEED EB Gold or higher in San Francisco; a certification which validates that environmental best practices have become standard procedure at the property. 

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. It provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest measures of green building and performance. 

“Union Bank’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Union Bank serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.” 

“We are proud to receive such an important recognition as the LEED Gold Certification for our building in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district,” said Ryan Bjorkquist, vice president in Union Bank’s Environmental Stewardship Department. “Union Bank is committed to reducing our environmental impact in the communities that we serve and this award demonstrates our continued dedication to that effort.” 

LEED certification of the building was based on a number of green design and construction features, as well as policy changes that positively impact the building, its occupants, and the broader community including: 

The property’s ENERGY STAR score of 87, which places it in the top 15 percent of all comparable office buildings nationwide;
Documentation of a robust green cleaning program;
90 percent of furniture purchased on a cost basis to meet sustainability standards;
Creation of a low-mercury lamping plan; and
Completion of operational audits and surveys related to indoor air quality, cleaning effectiveness, and occupant commuting.

“Union Bank is committed to managing its facilities in a sustainable way and identifying opportunities to invest in energy efficiency improvements and operating practices that will positively impact the environment,” said Brian Moore, Union Bank vice president and facilities management program manager. “We are finding that improving sustainability in the bank’s buildings not only helps reduce operating costs but also increases our employees’ well-being and engagement.” 

The improvements to the facility were implemented by Union Bank’s facilities management team, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE), a commercial real estate services and investment firm. Click here to learn more about Union Bank’s environmental initiatives. 

About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A. 
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $105.9 billion at December 31, 2013. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., provides an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 420 branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, New York and Georgia, as well as 2 international offices, on December 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. In July 2013, American Banker Magazine and the Reputation Institute ranked Union Bank #1 for reputation among its customers. Visit http://www.unionbank.com for more information. 

About the U.S. Green Building Council 
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. 

About LEED 
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. Every day, more than 1.5 million square feet of space is certified using LEED. More than 58,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising 10.7 billion square feet of construction space in more than 140 countries and territories. In addition, more than 53,000 residential units have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system. Learn more at usgbc.org/LEED.