“It’s hard to argue against making green-related facility changes when you see the resulting energy savings and reductions in your operating costs,” says Randall Knox, senior director of Global Facilities and Real Estate at Adobe. “Even though initial cost outlays involved in making facility improvements can be significant at times, we have documented that the payback is nearly always worth it in the long run.”

In 2007, Adobe generated more than $3 billion in revenue and employed approximately 6,700 employees worldwide dedicated to software development, marketing and sales, and office support services. Adobe develops leading technologies such as Adobe Reader, distributed in 26 languages on 10 major platforms worldwide; Adobe Flash Player, which has a 99 percent reach on Internet-enabled desktops; and Adobe Photoshop software, used by a large majority of graphic designers and agencies throughout the world.

LEED Certifications

Based on Adobe’s energy-saving initiatives the company has recently been awarded four Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building (LEED-EB) Platinum Certifications by the U.S. Green Building Council, which confirmed Adobe as the first company to earn four certifications in this category.

Adobe earned its first three LEED certifications in 2006 for each of the three office towers at the San Jose headquarters complex, which includes a total of 989,358 sf of occupied space resting above 938,473 sf of semi-enclosed garage space. The fourth LEED certification was awarded in May of this year for Adobe’s office in San Francisco, a three-story, 200,000-sf facility that survived the city’s historic earthquake a year after opening in 1905.

“As a company Adobe is very committed to creating and maintaining an eco-friendly operation.  LEED awards support this philosophy because it gives us a credible third-party evaluation and endorsement of our efforts,” says Knox.

He added that pursuing the specific parameters necessary to qualify for LEED helped to further define Adobe’s overall carbon-reduction efforts and led to additional cost-saving opportunities that were not originally targeted.

In addition to certifications in the existing-building category, Adobe also received its first LEED-Commercial Interiors (CI) Gold Certification in 2007 for its San Francisco facility. CI certifications recognize interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint.

Measurable Results

Knox explains that Adobe began to elevate its carbon footprint reduction efforts in 2001 when its facility management provider, Cushman & Wakefield, encouraged Adobe to make facility changes that would qualify the company to earn an Energy Star rating, a program launched by the EPA in an attempt to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by implementing changes such as energy efficient lighting and smart building systems.

Since 2001 Knox can point to 64 specific facility projects that Adobe has implemented aimed at increasing energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and lowering carbon emissions. He can also cite specific measurable results that Adobe has achieved with respect to gas, electricity, water, and waste reductions, including:

• Reduced electricity use by 35 percent
• Reduced natural gas use by 41 percent
• Reduced domestic water use by 22 percent
• Reduced landscape water use by 76 percent
• Reduced total pollution by 26 percent
• Reduced CO2 emission by 36 percent

“One of our first widespread facility programs at Adobe began with a complete lighting retrofit in 2004,” says Knox. “We started by simply changing the type of lightbulbs we were using and reducing the quantity of lightbulbs used overall.”

In 2005, Adobe installed an automated drip irrigation system outside its San Jose headquarters at a cost of $3,610. By using evapotranspiration (ET) controllers, which monitor information from weather satellites and turn on only when needed, the new system paid for itself in four months and continues to save Adobe more than $9,000 annually.

That same year, Adobe installed automated faucet valves and waterless urinals throughout all three towers within the San Jose headquarters complex, a total of 78 bathrooms.

According to Knox the bathroom renovations cost Adobe $145,732, but annual savings are expected to be $32,100. If projections are accurate, the system will begin to pay for itself after five years.

Knox points to several other building systems that were retrofitted in San Jose as key savings examples.

“We retrofitted the main supply fans with variable frequency drives that will save us more than $48,000 annually,” says Knox. “This is a great savings, but probably one of the biggest annual savings we will achieve is expected to come from one of the smallest changes we’ve made.”

He explains that in 2005, to reduce electrical usage Adobe reprogrammed the amount of time that fans in the San Jose parking garage are kept on.

“When we analyzed our building systems, we realized that there is no sacrifice in air quality if the air intake/outtake fans are turned on in the parking garage for only 15 minutes during the morning commute and another 15 minutes during the afternoon commute,” says Knox. “The fans do have sensors that will override the timers if the exhaust fume levels demand it, but overall we realized that we were wasting a lot of energy by keeping these fans on longer than necessary.”

This small change cost Adobe only approximately $200 in labor charges to reprogram the fans, but will result in an estimated annual savings of $98,818 in energy costs.

Carbon Footprint Reduction

Knox adds that Adobe has a goal of being completely carbon neutral by 2009 and is working with independent auditors to determine exactly what the company’s current carbon footprint is.

“Similar to the LEED program, we feel that it is equally important to get a third-party review of our carbon footprint,” says Knox. “We are currently consulting with The Gold Standard, The Leonardo Academy of Madison, Wis., PG&E, Sustainable Silicon Valley, and Three Degrees.”

In the first quarter of 2008, up to 91 percent of the solid waste generated at Adobe was diverted from landfill through a combination of recycling and composting efforts.

The company’s goal is to achieve 95 percent by the end of 2008 by using solutions such as installing sidesaddle waste baskets at each desk to separate compostables from recyclables; recycling office supplies such as batteries, toner cartridges, light bulbs, and paper; cycling grass clippings back into the grass; and composting cafeteria waste, to name just a few of the efforts.

Knox also points out that Adobe has an alternative commute program in place that has been rated among the best in the Silicon Valley.

“One of the important parts of the LEED award point system is the transit component,” says Knox. “Adobe offers commuter options such as bicycle cages and showers, the ability to telecommute for some positions, and pay incentives that encourage employees to use public transportation.”

He adds that in addition to cost savings, a commitment to eco-friendly practices can bring value to the company in recruiting and retaining employees.

“Many of today’s college students want to know what a company’s position on sustainability is before they decide to join as an employee,” says Knox. “We are finding that employees and members of our extended Adobe community stand behind the environmental decisions we make and will continue to keep us on our toes with regards to this commitment.”

He adds that if all of the U.S. companies that own commercial buildings would embrace eco-friendly practices there is an opportunity for significant energy savings.

“According to the EPA, commercial buildings in the United States account for 36 percent of total energy use, 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and 65 percent of electricity consumption,” says Knox. “Based on the simple changes we have made at Adobe I believe it is possible for an average commercial building to easily reduce its energy consumption by 30 percent.”

A 30 percent reduction in energy use in America’s 4.7 million commercial office buildings is estimated to be the equivalent of 5 ½ years of America’s total projected energy growth.

By Amy Cammell

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