COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grange Insurance is proud to announce that its headquarters, located at 671 High Street in Columbus, has received the LEED Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB: O&M) Gold Certification. This award represents a continuous effort by Grange to adhere to several environmentally rigorous standards.
"As a values-led company, Grange is increasingly integrating the protection and preservation of global resources in our day-to-day operations. It's part of doing the right thing and means we are committed to sustainability and an environmentally responsible approach to maintaining our building," said Grange Insurance EVP, Chief Operations Officer Doreen DeLaney Crawley. "We are honored to receive a LEED certification and remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing Grange's carbon footprint by continually following best practices."
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system globally and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings help make the world more sustainable. This marks Grange’s second certification from LEED. The insurance company earned a Green Building Silver Certification in 2015.
Grange achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality. This allows Grange to operate more sustainably and give the associates inside a healthier, more comfortable space to work. Strategies Grange implemented include:
- Retro-commissioning of mechanical equipment and lighting, which allows Grange to reduce its annual electrical consumption by 3,000,000 kilowatt hours – equivalent to the yearly energy usage of over 282 single-family homes.
- "Green" features throughout the building, including high-performance glazing, exterior sunshades, a green roof, and other sustainable components.
- Installed an electronic vehicle charging station in the surface lot.
- Switched traditional lighting bulbs to LED, which saves energy and has a longer lifespan.
- Upgraded HVAC equipment in Grange’s north tower to a new energy efficient system.
- Continue to monitor our mechanical systems to ensure the building is performing at its best efficiency.
"Achieving LEED certification is more than just implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role buildings play in that effort, Grange Insurance is creating a path forward through their LEED certification."
Certification is proof that Grange Insurance is going above and beyond to ensure its headquarters is operating to the highest sustainability level. More than 50,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED.
About Grange Insurance
Grange Insurance Company, with $3 billion in assets and more than $1.3 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider founded in 1935 and based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. Life insurance offered by Grange Life Insurance and Kansas City Life Insurance. Grange Insurance Company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit grangeinsurance.com.
