Nov 6 2009
First building in City’s Back Bay to receive LEED certification
Liberty Mutual Group, the fifth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S., today announced that its 10 St. James Avenue building, a 585,000 square foot Class A office building located in Boston’s Back Bay, has been awarded LEED Silver Certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance (LEED EB O&M) by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The 19-story tower, purchased by Liberty Mutual in 2006 is the first building in Boston’s Back Bay to receive the prestigious designation.
To achieve LEED certification, Liberty Mutual engaged the property’s management company, CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) and its Sustainability Programs Group. CBRE’s strategy was to increase the building’s operating efficiency, reduce utility consumption and explore all aspects of the LEED EB rating system relating to the environmental impact of operations, maintenance, construction and the health and welfare of the building.
“Over the past two years, Liberty Mutual has focused on resource conservation and preservation tactics that provide a good return, economically and environmentally. This has resulted in four LEED-Certified buildings and two ENERGY STAR labels,” said Joanne Bragg, facility director for Liberty Mutual’s corporate real estate. “Recognizing our commitment to energy reduction, CBRE worked to make the 10 St. James building a more sustainable facility and we are pleased that through their efforts we are able to add a fifth LEED certified building to our portfolio of green initiatives.”
To reduce base building utility consumption and lower the building’s operating expenses, CBRE conducted an energy audit, a building-wide lighting audit and an on-site waste stream audit. The firm also balanced the building ventilation system to optimize occupant comfort and reduce HVAC-related energy consumption by approximately five percent.
As a result of CBRE’s sustainability efforts, the firm projects Liberty Mutual’s 10 St. James Avenue building will realize approximately $63,900 in annual savings within an expected payback period of two years. In additional, the efforts will save 400,000 kilowatts of energy, reduce 1,323 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and divert from landfills 56 tons of recycling.
“We are extremely proud that 10 St. James Avenue has been recognized as the first building in Boston’s Back Bay to receive LEED EB O&M certification,” said CBRE’s Shay Sims, Vice President, Portfolio Manager/Partner. “We’re honored to be recognized for our environmental efforts and to show that sustainable practices are both good for the environment and the bottom line.”
Source: http://www.libertymutualgroup.com/omapps/ContentServer?pagename=LMGroup/Views/LMG