Federal Reserve Building Receives Top Environmental Certification Federal Reserve Building Receives Top Environmental Certification

May 27, 2010
Contact: Thomas L. Lavelle, Vice President and Public Information Officer, 617-973-3647 or
Joel Werkema, Assistant Vice President, 617-973-3510


The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is pleased to announce that its office tower, Federal Reserve Plaza, has received the prestigious LEED-EB Gold designation from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). "LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations , Maintenance" is a rating system that recognizes buildings with superior operational efficiency and minimal environmental impact.

With the LEED Gold certification, Federal Reserve Plaza is recognized as being among the highest rated LEED EB certified office buildings in Boston. It joins six other Boston-area office buildings with this designation.

Offering more than 1,000,000 square feet of office space, Federal Reserve Plaza is home not only to the Federal Reserve Bank, but also to tenants including Harvard Management Company; the law firm Wolf, Greenfield PC; the Japanese Consulate; and the Italian Consulate.

Environmental and sustainability initiatives at Federal Reserve Plaza date back to 1976, when the building's original construction included the installation of one of the city's first major roof gardens. Over the past 10 years, building management has installed new white roofs to reduce the heat island effect, completed a mechanical system retro-commissioning, and reduced water consumption by more than 30% through the replacement of all original water fixtures and the installation of low flow aerators. The recently reconstructed plaza incorporates a drip irrigation system and features native and adaptive vegetation in an effort to reduce water and fertilizer use and restore the local habitat.

An unusual component of the building's waste stream is shredded currency. Building management has instituted composting of the currency shred, an operation that has diverted more than 43 tons of waste from local landfills over the past 12 months. Overall, energy-related CO2 emissions have been reduced by more than 4%, or 704 tons - the equivalent of taking 147 passenger cars off the road.

"Once again the Federal Reserve sets the gold standard, but this time in green building achievement," said Mayor Menino. "In Boston we continue to demonstrate that green buildings are not only good for our environment, but are a sound investment that increases the bottom line through reduced costs from energy and waste. I applaud the Federal Reserve for making such a sound investment that will continue to pay dividends to the people of Boston and the region year after year."

Since 2008, the building's environmental/sustainability initiative has been led by Dana Warren, vice president of property management. "The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston takes pride in its position as a community leader, and we are truly excited to receive this recognition from the USGBC, says Mr. Warren. "Many of our staff have worked long, hard, and creatively to make this possible. It is quite an achievement for us."

Federal Reserve Plaza received the EPA's ENERGY STAR award in 2008 and was also recognized by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Boston as The Office Building of the Year (TOBY) recipient in 2009.