As a member of the Workplace Design & Services team, I’ve dedicated my career to environmental sustainability. For me, protecting the environment is more than a slogan: it’s the single most important thing I think about every day. At DTCC, I’m fortunate to work for a company that recognizes its responsibility to the planet and is committed to taking meaningful steps to reduce our energy footprint. When you consider that energy consumption contributes to nearly 60% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, it’s easy to see why this is a priority for us.
Through our programs to monitor energy usage, we saved 4.5 million kilowatts compared to our 2016 baseline year, which is equal to eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from 3.5 million pounds of coal. And I’m proud to be part of the team that’s upgrading to LED lighting and reducing electricity usage, including the installation of a new building management system globally that gives us real-time insight into our energy consumption.
In 2019, we moved the needle even more when we discovered new ways to improve our heating, cooling and ventilation practices. Looking at how some of those oversized systems were operating, it was like watching someone trying to drive a car with one foot on the gas pedal and another on the brake. They worked, just not very well. More specifically, we’ve implemented automation that determines the most efficient operating point of our equipment and stages on/off equipment as loads increase/decrease. Additionally, we’ve incorporated real-time metrics in our monitoring system that alerts us if systems start to operate outside of the ideal efficiency zone.
This was a big initiative with significant benefits, but our focus isn't only on large systems. We’re just as committed to making small differences because, over time, they add up. For instance, I always remind my colleagues to adopt more sustainable habits. “Turn off your lamp, use the stairs instead of elevators”–I must say that ten times a day. However, if each of us took actions like that, the impact would be significant.
DTCC Tampa Achieves LEED Certification
Recently, the DTCC Tampa Highwoods property achieved the LEED certification for its design and construction layouts.
LEED Certifications are official recognitions that a project or building complies with the requirement prescribed within the LEED rating systems (points) as created and maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Joining our 55 Water, Jersey City, Dallas, and Manila locations as LEED certified facilities, Tampa Highwoods was recognized across a number of key areas such as water efficiencies and energy performance.
Key Areas
- Water Efficiency: Reductions of 53% from low kitchen flow faucets and 20% for restroom water faucet sensors and toilet low flow flushes.
- Energy Performance: Installed refrigerators, ice machines, filtered water machines, microwave appliances, and AV equipment that are all energy star rated.
- Occupancy Sensors and Day Lighting Controls: Lighting dims automatically based on outside light were installed which reduced energy usage by 51%. Daylight responsive controls have also been installed in 100% of all regularly occupied spaces within 15 feet of windows or under skylights.
- Green Power: WDS and DTCC purchased 30.75 Kwh per sq. ft in green power credits. These represent the renewable energy resources associated with power production.
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control: Project space is located in a building that prohibits smoking by all occupants and users and that smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of all entries, outdoor air intakes and operable windows.
- Low Emitting Materials: All paints, flooring and wall covering adhesives, system furniture and seating comply with low emitting VOC limits.
- Thermal Comfort Design: Performed post occupancy survey within 18 months after move-in to measure thermal comfort.
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