Which of the following can help a bank be environmentally responsible and cut costs?
If you chose that last one, give yourself a gold star. If you chose that last one and have no idea why, read on.
PNC Bank was the first major U.S. bank to design and build environmentally conscious branch facilities. Two of those branches are here in Loudoun County.
"PNC took the initiative 10 years ago," said Gary Saulson, PNC's director of corporate real estate. "It's something we're very passionate about -- it's a way of doing business."
Saulson and his company knew the green approach would have value for everyone involved and invested in PNC's success. "We call it a four-legged stool," he explained. "It benefits all four of our groups -- our customers, our employees, the communities in which we do business, and our shareholders. Employees like working in these buildings, customers like that we're a socially responsible company. In every community where we've built one (green building), except one, we were the first. The shareholders appreciate the savings."
While Saulson described the corporate commitment as very straightforward -- "We just decided to do it, and went out and did it" -- this was not an effort that happened overnight. "There are no silver bullets -- no magic to it," he noted. What it took instead was a lot of hard work and new thinking.
Follow the LEED-erThe opportunity to show a green commitment presented itself when construction was already under way for the Firstside Center in downtown Pittsburgh. The decision was made to build a structure that would be environmentally sustainable, and earn certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a "green building" rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
According to the USGBC website, the LEED rating system addresses sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere issues, usage of material and resources, indoor environmental quality, locations and linkages, innovation in design, and regard given to regional environmental priorities.
When it was completed a decade ago, the PNC Bank building at Firstside Center was the largest LEED-certified building in the world. "We challenged every aspect of what we did before," Saulson said.
What's more, it served as a kind of proving ground for the practices and elements involved in rolling out PNC's new "Green Branch ®" offices. What they really needed, Saulson said, was an "iconic building -- one that speaks of greenness." PNC coined and trademarked the term "Green Branch ®" to describe these new branch buildings and to reflect its own commitment to the environment.
There are now 69 LEED-certified PNC buildings, including 66 Green Branches ® and 3 other facilities. The first Loudoun Green Branch ® opened in Ashburn in June 2006, the second at the Dulles 28 Center in May 2008. At present, PNC has more LEED-certified buildings than any other public company in the world.
Piece by piece
Of course, saying you're going green, and actually getting it done are two different things. Any time you do something new, you're going to have challenges. In the effort to realize PNC's green commitment, Saulson heard concerns from architects and engineers, from construction and design people. The issues, he knew, signaled the start of a discussion, not an end.
"No is really the beginning of yes," he noted. "It made me want to explore it more. If we were committed to do it, we'd find a way to do it." And so Saulson and his team broke it down, meticulously looking at every aspect of a banking facility and rethinking each component. "We held what's called an 'eco-charrette,'" he explained. The term was created by Tom Paladino, founder and president of Paladino and Company and PNC's environmental consultant. It denotes an intense, in-depth meeting to discuss efficient energy use and resources. "We challenged everything from the standpoint of environmental sustainability," Saulson said.
Consider a small detail like a water heater. In the past, Saulson explained, bank branch offices have been equipped with a 60-80 gallon water heater on the premises. Why? Because it's a standard size, the sort you'd find in most houses. Looking deeper into precisely how much water was actually used on a regular basis, the team saw that they could save energy and money by replacing the larger water heaters with a 5-gallon model.
"This is just an example of challenging all the parts and pieces that make up a building," Saulson said. "We literally went through every element."
Save money, save the planet
A visitor to a Green Branch ®, like the one in Ashburn at Pipeline Plaza, can see all those pieces working harmoniously in support of day-to-day business activities. Talk Loudoun was recently treated to a tour of the building from Behdis Mesgara, assistant vice president/branch manager.
Mesgara pointed out a host of environmentally conscious elements: solar siding and roof panels, prefabricated bricks inside and out, multi-layered windows that allow for ample light while providing insulation, and retractable window shades for the upper tier of windows that surround the main space of the bank.
"Everybody is so concerned about the environment," Mesgara said. "I do my share at home. PNC is doing their share. It's wonderful that I'm working for a company that cares."
PNC's Green Branch ® buildings are constructed using 50 percent locally manufactured, recycled or green materials. The smooth, tawny-colored cabinetry is made of a substance called wheat board, which is a byproduct of wheat processing. Floor surfaces are covered in completely recyclable carpeting or recycled rubber.
One of the more intriguing bits of innovative material is the hog's hair used to make the entryway carpets. Saulson noted that the coarse fibers help clean people's shoes as they enter and actually cut down on maintenance costs. And in case you were wondering, Saulson hastened to add, the hair is derived from shaving the hogs - no harm to or inhumane treatment of the animals is involved.
It's certainly great to be green, but is the bank saving any "green" in the process? Actually, each Green Branch ® costs about $150,000 less than a traditional branch, while reducing construction time per building by four to six weeks. And the particular materials used allow construction during adverse winter weather.
From an energy standpoint, the PNC Green Branch ® locations have reduced usage by approximately 45 percent compared to a traditional branch. Water usage has been cut by almost 4,000 gallons a year, thanks to more efficient systems and better insulation.
Customers, employees see the light
The hallmark walls of windows in a Green Branch ® not only allow abundant natural light, Saulson said, but also make the building more inviting and reflect the activity and vitality of each location. In fact, the overall design of the building seems to be helping enhance relationships between customers and PNC.
"In most banks, a customer goes to a teller, does the transaction and leaves," Saulson explained. But customers have been increasingly inquisitive about the new buildings and often ask employees to tell them more. "It's a great ice breaker for relationships," he said. "Employees have a certain amount of pride in their buildings."
Todd Frantum, a customer service associate at the Ashburn Green Branch ®, has noticed that customers are responding to the open, light-filled building design. "The customers love the airiness," he said. "It's nice to hear them talk, and say, 'This isn't like a regular bank.'"
From his perspective as an employee, Frantum concurs with that assessment. "It's nice to have the openness and the light. I've only been here about eight months - I was in retail before. I chose PNC for a lot of reasons, but one of them was its environmental commitment. One of the things that impressed me was that they didn't just talk about it, but they did things to help the Earth and the environment. It shows a lot of forward-thinking."
The future is Green
It is innovative thinking and the drive to continually improve that will help PNC expand their green commitment into the future. "We're going to continue to roll it out and look for greater energy savings," Saulson said, noting that they will seek more feedback from employees and customers in each community. "It really speaks to PNC as a leader, in business and from the perspective of being socially responsible. We care."
This summer, the bank will blaze yet another trail in its environmental program, a 350,000- square-foot building near the White House, noted Sonia McCormick, vice president and corporate communications manager. "PNC is about to open one of the greenest buildings in Washington D.C. at 17th and H streets," she said. "It will have a LEED Platinum Certification." The building will house PNC Greater Washington headquarters, the regional staff of PNC business lines and a bank branch, as well as a number of other tenants. The Platinum designation, which represents the highest level of LEED certification, is a milestone for this progressive banking company and the sign of more good things to come.
"We're not really satisfied with the status quo," Saulson said. "There's no looking back."
Funny how a leisurely bike ride along the Potomac River can change your whole outlook on life -- the water lapping on the shore, the lush flora, the twittering birds ... the litter. For Cascades resident and cycling enthusiast Mark Lenko, the mounting litter along the region's trails became a catalyst for a one-man environmental crusade. 
Druther was so affected by Lenko's teachable moment that she invited him to organize a KLB stream cleanup as part of Leadership Loudoun's first developmental camp for youth last August. Armed with trash sticks and garbage bags, Lenko led some 20 students from eight Loudoun County high schools along the stream banks of Sugarland Run in Cascades, where they encountered an astonishing amount of litter. The experience made a profound impact on the students.
O.K., quick quiz:
