NJ ranks 6th in states with most LEED-certified ‘green’ retail locations

To integrate the use of renewable energy at its drive-thru locations, TD Bank doesn’t just affix solar panels to its canopies, it builds the canopies out of them. Beyond utilizing the power of the sun, TD Bank both reduces construction costs and provides weather protection.

New Jersey is home to 221 of the more than 12,500 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified retail locations globally, amounting to 4,843,185 square feet in green retail space statewide. It ranks No. 6 in the nation.

Cherry Hill-based financial institution TD Bank has 266 “green” locations around the country, certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s widely-used green building LEED rating system, which provides a framework to create efficient and cost-saving green buildings.

“Now, perhaps more than ever before, consumers demand transparency and responsibility from the brands they support,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and chief executive officer of USGBC, in a statement. “The retail sector is no exception and many retailers recognize the importance of developing healthy, sustainable spaces that both delight their customers and support the larger community. LEED provides these businesses with a powerful tool to meet their commitments and to attract consumers.”

Ramanujam is right, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Ninety-three percent of global consumers expect the brands they shop to support social and environmental issues, and 68 million Americans make value-based purchases and are willing to spend up to 20 percent more on environmentally-sound items.