Corporate sustainability
Making our workspace certifiably green
September 08, 2022
Minimizing the environmental impact of our business operations isn’t just the trendy thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. And at Vanguard, doing the right thing—for our clients and crew—is how we do business.
In 2021, we achieved our goal of using 100% renewable energy globally for office space that is within Vanguard’s operational control. We also focused on reducing the environmental impact from our owned and leased buildings through sustainable technology and high-efficiency equipment, which lower operational costs over the long run and ultimately benefit our clients.
To support this focus, we pursue building certifications when a building Vanguard already owns or leases undergoes major renovations, or when we look for new real estate space.
Helping LEED the way
Vanguard has worked to certify our owned and leased space through a few programs, with the majority of the certifications aligned to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Currently, 24% of our global real estate portfolio square footage is certified, and another 11% is in the pipeline.
Paul Truskolaski, who leads the strategic projects group in Vanguard’s Global Workplace Experience department (GWx), said his team performs a feasibility analysis for each project it undertakes to determine whether the project qualifies for a LEED certification.
“Even if it doesn’t qualify, we look for opportunities to implement sustainable practices, such as LED lighting, water-saving fixtures, recycling, using renewable materials, etc.,” he said.
“LEED projects result in both quantitative and qualitative benefits,” said Diane Botson, the LEED program manager in GWx. “Some quantitative benefits include reduced water and energy use, less waste, and stormwater design that can drastically reduce runoff into local streams and waterways."
“Qualitative benefits include health benefits through the use of improved air filtration, green cleaning products, and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) materials.”
Pursuing LEED certification is just one of many ways Vanguard is working to reduce our corporate carbon footprint, manage climate-related risks, and lower our operational costs. Read more about our approach to corporate sustainability.
Contributors
Paul Truskolaski
Diane Botson
