Citi said on May 29 that it became the first company to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pre-certification for a retail commercial interior prototype through a pilot U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) program. The first Citi branches to be certified as part of the USGBC's Portfolio Program pilot are new CitiFinancial locations in Austin, TX and Flint, MI and the Citibank financial center in Warrington, PA. In addition, Citi designed 27 CitiFinancial and Citibank branches across the country under the same LEED standards. "This is part of our approach to embed sustainable business practices throughout our operations -- from our buildings to the supply chain to information technology," said Kevin Kessinger, chief operations and technology officer. The USGBC's market development vice president, Doug Gatlin, said "By participating in the Portfolio Program pilot, Citi is taking action to rapidly implement green building practices across its portfolio to directly address global environmental challenges. The program is a tremendous step forward in our fight to slow climate change and reduce energy dependence." Elements of Citi's green prototype include low-flow plumbing fixtures; energy-efficient office equipment; lights that automatically turn off when rooms are unoccupied; carpet, desks, seating, fabrics and cabinetry made from recycled materials; furniture, finishes and construction materials that meet stringent indoor air quality emissions tests; and green e-certified power to provide 50% of the electrical load at the Citibank branches for at least two years.