Wells Fargo's New Banking Stores Reducing Energy Use 20 Percent
Company Achieves LEED(R)-Silver Pre-Certification for New Stores from U.S. Green Building Council
SAN FRANCISCO, Jul 23, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) said today that its newly built
banking stores will use about 20 percent less energy and 40 percent
less water than conventional buildings of the same type. The Company
also said it is one of the first to be pre-certified for Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction by the U.S.
Green Building Council (USGBC).
"This is another example of our commitment to environmental
stewardship, saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,"
said Carrie Tolstedt, head of Wells Fargo Community Banking.
Before pre-certification was available, buildings required a
separate application, audits and fees to become LEED certified. Now
with the pre-approved, design certification approach, much of the work
is completed upfront. This saves time and money and helps to
streamline the certification process in cities nationwide.
"Wells Fargo has been a large supporter of the green building
movement throughout the years and was a pioneer participant in the
USGBC Portfolio Pilot Program," said Rick Fedrezzi President, CEO &
Founding Chair of the USGBC. "We appreciate their dedication as we set
out to conserve energy and other natural resources through green
building practices. Buildings are responsible for 39 percent of CO2
emissions in the U.S., which directly impacts global climate change -
however case studies show that LEED buildings are consuming half the
energy of conventional buildings."
The Wells Fargo LEED pre-certified prototype includes:
-- 20 percent savings in energy use*, and accountability for
energy consumption to assure projected savings over the life
of the building
-- 40 percent savings in water use*
-- 20 percent of building materials composed of both post- and
pre-consumer recycled content
-- 75 percent of wood-based materials are certified by the Forest
Stewardship Council as coming from forests and factories that
are managed in an environmentally responsible way; all wood is
domestically harvested
*Compared to conventional buildings.
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company
with $609 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance,
investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores
and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere
internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S.,
and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest possible
credit rating from both Moody's Investors Service, "Aaa," and Standard
& Poor's Ratings Services, "AAA."
SOURCE: Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo & Company Stephanie Rico, 415-396-5804 (Media)
Copyright Business Wire 2008



