The Executive’s Daily Green Briefing

September 11, 2007

Humana’s Chicago Offices Receive LEED Certification

humanas-chicago-offices-3347.jpgHumana’s Chicago office has been awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in its Commercial Interiors category.

The office, at 550 West Adams Street, was designed to achieve LEED Certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. LEED verifies environmental performance, occupant health and financial return.

In July 2006, Humana occupied 55,000 sq. feet on two floors of the 18-story tower at Adams and Clinton Streets. The building was new, so Humana controlled much of the design and functionality of the space it leases. LEED certification for a commercial interior means that Humana was evaluated only on its efforts to build out, furnish and manage its two floors, as opposed to the entire building.

LEED Certification of Humana was based on a number of green design and construction features which include:

  • An office interior designed so that 75 percent of the space receives natural light,
  • Sensors that dim lights when enough natural light is present,
  • Energy-saving equipment and appliances,
  • An active recycling program,
  • Low-emission carpeting, made from recycled content,
  • Regionally purchased construction materials and furnishings to minimize transportation-related pollution and fuel costs,
  • Customized ventilation and air filtration system for efficiency and air quality, and
  • An agreement that Humana’s housekeeping vendor use organic cleaning supplies.
Join the Discussion

Today's News

Recycle To Save Energy–The Sooner The Better

Recycle To Save Energy–The Sooner The Better

Recycling rates in the U.S. are low and getting lower. The U.S., by far the world's biggest consumer of aluminum ... continue »

Using Green IT To Get Out Of The Red And Into The Black
Measuring, Managing, Saving: Making Energy Efficiency Visible
Lean And Clean With Green Purchasing
‘Recyclable’ Is So Last-Century
Environmental Initiatives Top Of Mind For Financial Services Execs

Environmental Initiatives Top Of Mind For Financial Services Execs

Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of financial institution executives say they plan to build new or undergo a major remodel of an existing ...

click to view full size chart »

Consumers Want Brands To Solve Climate Crisis
Belief In Global Warming Slips
U.S. Lags Behind On Green Consumption And Behavior
Restaurants Explore Sustainability With ‘Conserve’ Initiative

Restaurants Explore Sustainability With ‘Conserve’ Initiative

This promotional video features restaurateurs discussing sustainable solutions and Conserve, the environmental initiative of the National Restaurant Association....

click to view video »

Polar Bears On Thin Ice, Listed As ‘Threatened’
HP Exec On Product Takeback
Sony, Mohawk Bring Greener Products To Market
The Bottom Line

Marketing

Consumers Reward Good Corporate Behavior - Unless There’s A Big Sale

Green Meetings Don’t Have To Cost More Green

Green Marketing Campaigns Not Sticking

Emissions

Mars Snackfood Unwraps Landfill Gas Project

Honeywell, Airbus, JetBlue, IAE Developing Aviation Biofuel

EnerNOC Buys Offsets To Remain Carbon Neutral

Hi-Tech

EPS Developing Energy Use Monitoring System

Dell To Increase PC Energy Efficiency 25% By 2010

HP Exec On Product Takeback

Efficiency

Restaurants Explore Sustainability With ‘Conserve’ Initiative

ASHRAE Best Design Practices Could Cut Warehouse Energy Use 30%

Environmental Initiatives Top Of Mind For Financial Services Execs

Manufacturing

Dupont, Genencor Invest $140M In Cellulosic Ethanol Joint Venture

Smart Papers Installing Honeywell Biomass Co-Gen Plant

Ford Racks Up Another Environmental First

Carbon Offsets/RECs

Voluntary Carbon Market Tripled In 2007, Hit $331M

Enel Buys $232 Million Of Carbon Credits From China’s Wuhan Steel

RGGI Cap And Trade To Go Online Sept. 10

CSR Reports

Starbucks Plans Renewable Energy Buy, Green Building Standards

Brazilian, Indian Companies Dominate GRI Reporting Awards

CSR: Chevron To Invest $2.5B in Alternative, Renewable Energy Tech

Major Players

Recycle To Save Energy–The Sooner The Better

With $100M, Duke Energy Joins Rooftop Solar Movement

Sony, Mohawk Bring Greener Products To Market

See All Topics »