DENVER, Sept. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Denver office of KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Interior certification for its new office space from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The LEED Green Building Rating System for Commercial Interiors is a set of performance standards for certifying a building's design and construction to promote healthy, durable, affordable and environmentally-sound practices in tenant space design and construction.
"At KPMG, we're focused on environmental stewardship. Our people, our clients and our communities expect KPMG to demonstrate leadership in sustainable business practices," according to KPMG Denver Office Managing Partner Michael Bearup. "This is the way that KPMG is working toward our goal of reducing gross greenhouse gas emissions per employee by 10 percent through calendar year 2015."
Continuing its long-standing commitment to Colorado's business community, KPMG relocated its Denver office to the Seventeenth Street Plaza location last October. KPMG selected this LEED-certified building and designed the new office space according to a comprehensive plan, which achieved the significant milestones needed to obtain LEED-CI certification.
"Achieving LEED certification is an accomplishment that our employees take a lot of pride in," said Bearup. "In collaboration with Seventeenth Street Plaza, we worked hard to design our office using concepts incorporating natural light, environmentally-friendly furnishings and technology to reduce our energy usage."
The following milestones were achieved during construction to obtain LEED-CI certification:
- Many materials used were manufactured in the region, supporting the local economy and reducing the environmental impact caused by transportation.
- 90 percent of new technology equipment and appliances used in construction are rated ENERGY STAR.
- 75 percent of the office light fixtures are controlled by occupancy sensors.
After construction, these milestones were achieved to obtain LEED-CI certification:
- 20 percent reduction in electrical lighting load, as compared to similar office buildings.
- 20 percent less water usage due to low-flow water fixtures.
- A two-year renewable energy contract that provides 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources.
- Provision of safe disposal options for batteries and old electronics, such as cell phones. Unused office supplies (such as pens, markers, etc.) are being returned to a central location for restock and redistribution, rather than disposal.
- Recycling receptacles are available in all service areas, pantries, conference areas, offices, workstations and the café.
About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 152,000 professionals, including more than 8,600 partners, in 156 countries.