MassMutual Awarded LEED Gold for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Nov. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) announced today that its headquarters has been awarded LEED Gold using the LEED for Existing Buildings rating system. The building previously achieved LEED Silver in recognition of the company's ongoing progress with its sustainability efforts.

"Since the 1970s MassMutual has been diligently working on lessening our environmental impact and increasing our sustainability. Achieving LEED Gold is another example of how MassMutual keeps its gaze firmly on the future, working toward a better world for our policyowners, community, company and employees," said Sean Anderson, head of Real Estate and Facilities for MassMutual. "MassMutual's environmental stewardship is highly complementary of our overall mission to help people secure their future and protect the ones they love."

The LEED Gold rating is the second highest of four levels bestowed for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings. LEED is the world's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

MassMutual keeps constant tabs on its environmental stewardship through a performance score platform that measures performance and progress and is continuously updated. The digital platform educates and engages building users and operators while monitoring energy, water, waste, transportation use and employee satisfaction with the environment of MassMutual's 1295 State St. headquarters. The digital performance platform, located in the Springfield headquarters' lobby, continuously displays the environmental monitoring data in real time, reporting the performance of the building as well as the impact on the community and environment.

LEED Gold was awarded to MassMutual for its ongoing efforts to improve its sustainable practices. Since being awarded LEED Silver in 2011, MassMutual has undertaken several green initiatives, including:

• Incorporating the performance score platform to continuously report the latest data on the company's sustainability practices;
• Adding electric vehicle charging units, which now number 64, as more employees and visitors arrive in battery-powered vehicles;
• Installing 1,700 photovoltaic and thermal solar panels, which supply 50 percent of the building's hot water and 3 percent of its power;
• Updating the data center with more energy-efficient hardware, saving 2.8 million kilowatt hours (k-Wh) per year;
• Installed high-efficiency lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the headquarters building, saving 450,000 k-Wh annually.
• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 5,500 metric ton lifetime Greenhouse Gas (GHG) equivalencies;
• Reducing water usage with 500 high efficiency water fixtures inside the building and rainwater capturing systems for irrigation needs, saving five million gallons of water annually; and
• Improving waste handling by recycling more than 300 tons of paper and cardboard annually.

MassMutual achieved its initial LEED certification for reductions in its use of energy, lighting and water, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. Through the use of LEED and the performance score, buildings like MassMutual's headquarters are becoming more resource efficient, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a healthier environment for building residents, employees and the community.

About MassMutual

MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. MassMutual offers a wide range of financial products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, annuities, retirement plans and other employee benefits. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com.

CONTACT:
Paula Tremblay
413-744-0885
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual