United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED EB) certifications to four of MetLife’s offices.
Gold certifications were awarded to MetLife’s offices located in Somerset, N.J., Oriskany, N.Y., and Bridgewater, N.J., while the office at Aurora, IL achieved a Silver certification from the USGBC as part of its Portfolio Program.
The objective of the LEED EB program is to promote the adoption of sustainable practices in existing commercial buildings to create more productive and healthier workplaces. The Portfolio Program enables the incorporation of such operations and standards into several buildings in the company’s portfolio simultaneously through a streamlined and cost-effective process called volume certification.
To achieve LEED EB certifications, all the operations in the building, maintenance procedures and practices were examined for its energy efficiency based on USGBC’s green building standards. Each site’s water efficiency, lighting, material use, site management and indoor air quality were all considered for the certification.
To receive these LEED EB certifications, MetLife worked closely with Cushman & Wakefield, the property manager. After these certifications, MetLife has 11 ENERGY STAR-rated facilities, and six LEED certified properties that or owned or operated by it.