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The ACE Group of insurance and reinsurance companies today announced that its building at 436 Walnut Street in Philadelphia has earned the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  The building, located near Independence Hall in the city’s Historic District, is the only LEED-certified existing building in Philadelphia.  The 350,000-square-foot structure houses 900 employees and serves as ACE’s North American regional headquarters.

ACE Environmental Analyst Melissa Young discusses and shows how the insurer's Philadelphia facility became the city's first certified "green" existing building.

“We have made a substantial commitment to reduce our global carbon footprint, and that includes our operations here in Philadelphia,” said Brian Dowd, ACE Limited Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Insurance-North America. “Implementing the steps to earn this certification in one of our largest facilities represents a major accomplishment in our environmental mission.”

The ACE facility achieved LEED-EB (Existing Building) certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, and other sustainable strategies.  LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, employees and the community.

“ACE’s LEED certification in Philadelphia demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and ACE serves as a prime example of just how much we can accomplish.”

The certification recognized several ACE achievements with the building in key criteria areas.  Examples include:

-          With an Energy Star score of 74, the building uses 20% less energy than buildings of equal size in the Philadelphia region. Through further energy reducing projects being implemented this year, such as installation of new energy efficient boilers, the company expects to reduce its energy consumption even further over time.  

-          90% of all electronic products (computers, printers, cell phones, televisions, etc.) purchased for the facility are Energy Star certified.

-          57%, by weight, of all waste leaving the building is recycled.

-          25% of ACE employees commute to the office utilizing alternative transportation, including rail, bus, walking and bicycling.

In addition to its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impact of its operations globally, ACE offers insurance products and risk management services to help commercial customers meet environmental and climate-related challenges. The ACE Green Website (www.acegreen.com) highlights the full range of insurance products and services ACE offers around the world to help clients manage their environmental and sustainable business development risks.  Through its third-party administrator, ESIS, ACE also provides environmental engineering and consulting services to clients, including a LEED consulting practice area.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.  The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. 

The ACE Group is a global leader in insurance and reinsurance serving a diverse group of clients.  Headed by ACE Limited (NYSE:ACE), the ACE Group conducts its business on a worldwide basis with operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries.  Additional information can be found at: www.acelimited.com

Contact Information
Stephen Wasdick
212-827-4444
stephen.wasdick@acegroup.com