TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, Announces It's Now Carbon Neutral and Unveils New 'Green Store' Prototype Design

CHERRY HILL, N.J., and PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, continues to WOW! its customers, but this time in a very green and environmentally friendly way. Today TD Bank announced it is the largest U.S.-based bank to go carbon neutral. TD Bank also unveiled the new "green" design for its future stores.

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As part of its overall environment strategy, TD Bank reached its carbon neutral goal by building greener buildings, lowering its energy consumption, and making a significant investment in renewable energy from sources like wind, solar and low-impact hydro power.  TD Bank has purchased a block of wind energy large enough to power its network of 2,600 ATMs. TD Bank has also purchased 31,000 metric tons of carbon offset credits to eliminate its remaining emissions.

TD Bank prides itself on providing its customers with a consistent "WOW! the Customer" experience through products and services, as well as its delivery channels. The bank developed a "prototype store" design that has a similar look and feel so no matter where customers bank, they will have a memorable and consistent store experience from Maine to Florida.

TD Bank has pledged to develop LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified stores opening its first green prototype store in Queens Village, N.Y.,  at 214-32 Jamaica Avenue, targeted to open in the spring of 2010. The bank expects to open about five to 10 new green stores in 2010.  In 2011, the vast majority of new TD Bank stores constructed will be LEED certified and all stores thereafter.  The bank has already opened LEED certified offices at 200 State Street in Boston, Mass., and in 2010 plans to open a call center in Auburn, Maine, which it fully intends to LEED certify. LEED evaluates buildings for their overall environmental performance in five areas: sustainable sites, water use, energy efficiency, materials and resource use, and indoor environmental quality.   LEED Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification; TD Bank is targeting LEED Platinum certification for its new Queens Village store.

TD Bank's new 3,800 square-feet prototype stores will reduce energy consumption by 50 percent compared to previous designs, with nearly 20 percent of the store's energy being produced onsite through solar panels and solar drive-thru canopies. The new stores will feature: wood from sustainably managed forests, products that emit little-to-no VOCs (volatile organic materials), walk-off mats and air filters that trap particles of dirt, dust and pollen for improved indoor air quality, insulated glass with a low-E coating to help keep a balanced, temperate environment, and sensors to control lighting. Stores will be maintained with green cleaning products, and will recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics and disposable batteries.

"TD Bank is committed to protecting the environment and reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions by developing innovative buildings and focusing on sustainability efforts for our employees and customers in a WOW! way," said Fred Graziano, head of retail banking, TD Bank. "We are proud of what we have accomplished and will continue to look for opportunities to be as efficient as possible in our energy use. It is more important than ever to meet the needs of our planet in the same way we meet the service needs of our customers."

The new store will continue to provide customers and employees with a comfortable and convenient banking experience and will feature:

• solar drive-thru canopy – a translucent canopy over the drive-thru lanes that generates electricity for the store
• kids' center – a place where children can test their financial literacy knowledge and skills, as well as learn about some of the green features of the building
• customer service islands – convenient and customer friendly stations to learn more about the bank's products and services from customer service representatives
• wall murals – highlighting a local historic scene
• drive up ATM – making TD Bank even more convenient, the drive up ATM allows customers to save time and access their accounts 24 hours a day
• lots of glass to allow natural daylight and views to the outside
• excellent indoor air quality
• exterior walls and glazing that keeps the store cool in the summer and warm in the winter
• water efficient plumbing fixtures
• environmentally friendly materials and finishes made of recycled materials
• secure bicycle parking
• new design for Penny Arcade, TD Bank's free interactive coin counting machine
• landscape designed with drought-tolerant plants and shrubs that do not need to be watered regularly.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Financial Group of Toronto, Canada, which today also announced its global business operations are now carbon neutral.

TD Bank focuses on delivering award-winning customer service by providing the longest banking hours in the markets it serves, free Penny Arcade coin-counting machines, hassle-free products, free online banking and bill pay at www.tdbank.com, and treats for kids and dogs. The bank's lending professionals are local bankers making local loans, and they establish customer relationships focusing on service and the delivery of individualized financing solutions. Customers also have access to a network of 2,600 ATMs from Maine to Florida.

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 15 largest commercial banks in the United States with $142 billion in assets, and provides customers with a full range of financial products and services at more than 1,000 convenient locations from Maine to Florida. TD Bank, N.A., is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Portland, Maine. TD Bank is a trade name of TD Bank, N.A. For more information, visit www.tdbank.com.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Financial Group of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America and one of the few banks in the world rated Aaa by Moody's.

SOURCE TD Bank