Proving Net-Zero Is Possible: TD Bank’s First Energy-Positive Store
When TD Bank set out to be as green as its logo, it needed a partner who could turn ambition into measurable results. The outcome is the first operating Net-Zero bank in the United States, a building designed to produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. And it delivered on that promise. Through a rigorous measurement and verification process spanning the full 2012 calendar year, the store generated 111,185 kWh of power while consuming just 106,814 kWh, returning four percent of excess capacity back to the grid.
Efficiency by Design
Our team collaborated closely with TD Bank’s Design and Operations groups to analyze plug loads and develop energy efficiency strategies that reduced consumption by 30 percent compared to a traditional bank. LED lighting, natural daylighting, variable refrigerant flow heat pumps, and intelligent building system controls work together to minimize demand. On the generation side, over 400 photovoltaic panels mounted across the roof, drive-thru canopy, and a ground-mounted array produce the clean energy that tips the balance from efficient to Net-Zero.
Recognized at the Highest Level
The results speak for themselves, but the industry took notice too. The store achieved LEED Platinum certification from the USGBC and earned a sustainability award from the ICSC Centerbuild Conference. More than a single building, this project established a replicable model for what’s possible when bold sustainability goals are backed by the technical expertise to achieve them.