Michael Barry, Head of Sustainable Business Operations at Bloomberg, explains how and why we create workspaces that energize employees, promote innovation and are also eco-friendly.
Design is a core component of our culture, and so is sustainability. Every decision we make around our building design takes into consideration operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
As of year-end 2020, Bloomberg had 35 active office spaces that are environmentally certified: 15 of our spaces have achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum (the highest rating), another 19 have achieved LEED Gold (the second highest rating), and 1 received a BREEAM rating of “Outstanding,” the system’s highest rating. We are pleased to add one more to this list, with our newest New York City office space at 919 Third Ave receiving LEED Gold for Commercial Interiors for floors 1-4, 10, and 14-18.
Buildings with LEED or BREEAM certifications have been designed and constructed to reduce energy and water usage, promote better indoor air quality and reduce the environmental impact of construction materials and waste.
Our sustainable offices
Developing a large portfolio of environmentally-certified office spaces is an important component of our facilities strategy. Our first LEED project was the San Francisco Pier 3 office, which achieved LEED Gold certification in 2008. Today, over 75% of our employees work in LEED or BREEAM certified office spaces.
Read more about our sustainable practices and initiatives at Bloomberg in our 2020 Impact Report.
“We create global workplaces that our employees are proud of coming into every day. It’s not just a reflection of our commitment to minimize the firm’s environmental impact, but also a company culture that prioritizes collaboration and productivity facilitated by dynamic design,” says Paul Logan AIA, LEED AP, Global Head of Capital & Design.
The impact of a smarter, cleaner business
LEED and BREEAM certification sets high standards for sustainable building operations. Dave Wildman, Global Head of Facilities & Infrastructure explains, “Our environmentally certified offices reduce operating costs and our environmental impact, while improving the health and well-being of the occupants — fitting perfectly with our commitment to sustainability.”
For example, the bathroom and pantry fixtures we installed have reduced potable water usage by 37%, resulting in an estimated annual savings of nearly 7 million gallons of water.
Our lighting power has been reduced by 25%, saving an estimated 12 million kWh to date — the equivalent of the annual electricity use of 1,545 homes. We also diverted 86% of total construction waste away from landfills.
On top of that, we as employees can make a difference in our communities. “Our office spaces are designed to help reduce our consumption of materials, encouraging employees to recycle and compost waste. A practice that many employees incorporate into their personal lives,” says Dave.
Third-party sustainability certifications are a prime example of a best-in-class standard being put to use at Bloomberg that makes sense for business and the community.