February 9, 2007 12:20 PM PST
Adobe's offices were constructed between 1996 and 2003. The company set out to shrink energy usage by 10 percent following California's 2001 energy crisis.
"We were further along than we thought we were, and we thought we might as well go for LEED certification," said Randy Knox III, Adobe's real estate and facilities director. "We started seeing almost immediate return in the area of cost savings. It gives you incentive to start reaching higher on the tree."
The windows already had ultraviolet filters to control the flow of sunlight. In each office, Adobe added motion-sensitive lighting and Watt Stopper outlets that shut off peripherals when workers leave their desks. Helped by rebates from Pacific Gas & Electric, this $253,000 expense has helped save Adobe $97,000 each year.
Photo by Adobe Systems
