Wells Fargo opens company's first 'Green' Banking Store

30 Mar '10

2 min read

Wells Fargo & Company opened the company's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold-certified retail banking store in the San Fernando Valley. The new store, located at 12900 Ventura Blvd., in Studio City, Calif., is the second Wells Fargo LEED banking store in the state and the 26th in the country reflecting the company's new building standards for its newly built retail banking stores. Wells Fargo's first LEED-certified banking store was opened in Manhattan Beach, Calif., last year.

A few “green” features of the new store include:

• Light harvesting system, which adjusts lighting according to available daylight helping to reduce energy usage by 20 percent,
• Insulation made from recycled cotton, primarily denim,
• Fully recyclable carpet, window treatments and counter surfaces,
• Use of water saving plumbing fixtures and control devices, which helps to cut water usage by 40 percent (Compared to conventional buildings of the same type).

“The construction of this store is part of a broader, companywide commitment to the environment – a commitment we know is shared by the residents of Studio City,” said Marla Vasquez, regional president for Wells Fargo's San Fernando Valley Community Bank.

Wells Fargo is one of the first companies in the nation to earn pre-certification from LEED for New Construction. LEED, a point-based building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), verifies a building was designed and built to be greener. Before pre-certification was available, individual buildings required a separate application, audits and fees to become LEED certified. Now with the pre-approved design approach, much of the work is completed upfront and certification applies to all buildings built to the pre-approved standards. This approach saves time and money and helps to streamline the certification process in cities nationwide.

Wells Fargo's pre-certification for buildings is for LEED Silver, however, the company was able to earn the higher LEED Gold status for the Studio City and Manhattan Beach banking stores by building greener than originally planned.

“We are very pleased and supportive of Wells Fargo's efforts to promote green buildings,” said Lance Williams, executive director of the USGBC Los Angeles chapter. “LEED Gold certification is rare and reflects Wells Fargo's commitment to sustainable building practices.”

Wells Fargo & Company

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