At MassMutual, we believe our efforts to address environmental sustainability are more than just good corporate citizenship. These efforts create opportunities to reduce our operating costs which, ultimately, benefit the people who rely on us every day: our policyholders and customers. Throughout everyday business operations, we work to reduce our environmental footprint by effectively managing our facilities and the natural resources we consume.
The operations noted in this section include our home offices in Springfield, MA and Enfield, CT and our Learning and Conference Center in Chicopee, MA.
LEED Certification for Existing Buildings
In the first quarter of 2011, MassMutual obtained Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) Silver Certification. Our work to earn certification for the State Street campus in Springfield, which includes 11 buildings making up 1.4 million square feet of space, was a years-long process. During this time we were required to make numerous updates and changes to the building’s facilities and infrastructure, including updating the company’s data center and water-chiller system, along with installing new water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
Solar Technology
In 2010, as part of our renewable energy strategy, MassMutual installed more than 600 photovoltaic and thermal solar panels on the roof of our headquarters in Springfield. The panels provide 50 percent of the building's hot water needs and two percent of its power. Over their lifetime, the panels will reduce our carbon emissions by an estimated 1,800-plus metric tons.
Lighting and Energy Use
Our comprehensive energy efficiency program ranges from high-efficiency lighting systems and "daylight harvesting" (systems that automatically turn off electric lights when the sun is bright enough to provide natural light) to updating our Data Center. In fact, through server virtualization and ventilation upgrades, our ongoing Data Center project has helped reduce our carbon footprint by over 40 percent, and will significantly curtail energy costs over the long run. Cleaner-burning fuel will be used in the Data Center to heat the building and operate the standby generators. The low sulfur fuel will reduce environmental emissions by 97 percent and the sulfur content will be reduced from 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm.
Reducing Waste
MassMutual has introduced technologies that reduce paper use, including online insurance application forms, “electronic” insurance policies and an electronic prospectus delivery option for our retirement plan sponsors and participants. Employee demand drove efforts to provide cafeteria alternatives to Styrofoam plates and cups. The resulting use of over 2,250 refillable “green” mugs saves more than 200,000 large Styrofoam cups annually. We also save approximately five million gallons of water annually after the installation of 500 plumbing fixtures.
Recycling
MassMutual recycles more than 600 tons of paper each year and about five tons of fluorescent lights. The company purchases eco-friendly office furniture and carpets that promote good air quality and are made from recyclable materials. A new plastic bottle recycling program has also been instituted, saving more than 2,500 bottles from going into the local landfill.
Transportation
MassMutual recently added two free electric vehicle charging stations for employees on the Springfield and Enfield campuses in order to accommodate new electric vehicles coming to the market. Ten bicycles and adult-sized tricycles, as well as a Jeep Liberty hybrid, have been added to our fleet of Security and Facilities vehicles, eliminating the use of electric carts and less efficient cars.
Additionally, MassMutual has increased support of carpooling and ride share vanpooling programs. Combined, nearly 300 participants are using these transportation options, including specially designated carpooling parking spaces on both the Springfield and Enfield campuses.
