FIRST BANK TO ZERO OUT ENERGY

TD opens the nation’s first net-zero energy bank
Chris Meehan, May 18, 2011 (Clean Energy Authority)

"TD Bank…unveiled the first net-zero energy bank in the U.S….The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., bank produces as much energy as it uses and is just the latest of TD Bank’s new energy-efficient banks with solar…

"Last year the company unveiled new 'green-store design standards,' under which new TD banks will be designed to be almost 50 percent more energy efficient than the company’s previous design standards."

More about TD Bank’s green buildings. From foxprovidence via YouTube

"The net-zero energy bank was built according to the standards, which include solar-powered canopies over drive-up tellers, where they’re available…[The bank’s rooftop] solar panels… produce between 18 percent and 20 percent of the site’s needs…The company buys the photovoltaic arrays…[which are expected to] pay for themselves in seven years…[and] last much longer…

"Last year TD Bank built more than 20 “Piggybanks” using the new design standards… The green building designs are still new to TD Bank, and some of the new banks were proposed before the new design standard was in place…[It takes some two years for] zoning and other requirements. Still, the design standards cover [80 percent] of the [37] new banks that it will open this year…"