2007 Winner
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Category: Sustainable Built Environment

Photo credit: William Porter

Adobe Systems' headquarter buildings consist of three high-rise towers in downtown San Jose,California. Over the past five and one half years, Adobe and Cushman & Wakefield, their facilities management partner,have undertaken a program that has enhanced Adobe's operating efficiency and greatly reduced their environmental footprint.

Adobe's impressive conservation program has reduced per occupant electricity and natural gas use by 35% and 41% respectively, domestic water use by 22%, and landscape irrigation by 76%. Adobe is diverting solid waste by up to 87%, and they have reduced CO2 emissions by 23%. In the process, Adobe has received $389,000 in rebates from government agencies and reduced operating costs by $1.2 million annually. This return on investment of 121% demonstrates that "the right thing to do" can also be good business.

In 2006, Adobe's West Tower became the first building in the world to be certified at platinum level by the U.S. Green Building Council in their permanent Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building program for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB). Recently, Almaden and East Towers joined West Tower, and Adobe became the first organization in the world to have three platinum certified Green Buildings - the highest LEED level attainable.

gdenise@adobe.com

www.adobe.com