Bank Where Not Just Money Is Green

Eco-Friendly Makes Fiscal, Common Sense

With an abundance of natural lighting, carpet made from recycled material and wheatboard cabinets, PNC Bank opened its newest branch in Bristow last week, making it the latest building in Prince William County to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

"Green" buildings are a growing trend in Prince William. Three have been recognized by the council for how they are constructed -- using recycled materials -- and how much of an effect they have on the environment -- energy efficiency. Green buildings use less natural resources than regular buildings and contribute less waste.

The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit organization that offers certification for sites that meet standards in "water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality." The certification program began in 2000, and two other buildings in Prince William County are certified: Wetlands Studies and Solutions' offices in Gainesville and Manassas.

Local schools have also made efforts to become more environmentally conscious and become certified. Cougar Elementary School in Manassas Park opened in 2001 for students in kindergarten through third grade. The Manassas Park school system plans to break ground in July on two buildings that will house preschool and upper-elementary school students. The schools are being considered for certification.

"We really think that if the children learn this in an early stage they will be able to take [what they learned] into the community and be teaching their parents and their neighbors," Cougar Elementary Principal Patricia Miller said.

The designs for the new schools include energy-efficient geothermal heating, collecting rainwater to reuse in the school and motion-sensor lights that turn on and off automatically. Details also include two sets of doors at entrances that help keep hot or cool air in and provide security.

Working with architects and builders from the beginning of the planning process is essential to buildings such as Cougar Elementary becoming certified by the council. Miller said that details, such as how to manage rainwater runoff from the construction site, must be considered.

Although it might cost a little more to construct a green building, "it is fiscally responsible in the long run," Miller said.

Teachers at Cougar have begun incorporating information about the building into their curriculum.

The PNC branch in Bristow is part of a larger national effort by the bank to open green branches. The Bristow bank is identical to one in Ashburn that opened last summer and has been certified. More than 40 PNC Banks are either certified or are planning to be certified.

"We wanted to build an iconic building that would contribute architecturally to the communities in which we do business, one that would be comfortable for our customers and our employees to work in and from a shareholders' perspective would be economic to build and to operate on an ongoing basis," said Gary Saulson, director of corporate real estate for PNC Financial Services Group and head of the effort to erect more green buildings.

Some things that the PNC buildings do to be more environmentally conscious include building with recycled materials, using wheatboard instead of plywood and using prefabricated wall panels that provide better insulation and minimize construction time. For PNC employees, the most obvious and favorite feature are the many windows that bring in natural light.

"It is great in terms of lighting," Bristow branch manager Mark Yackel said. "It makes you feel almost like you are in an outdoor setting."