Adobe Systems

Key Project Information Project Title: Corporate Headquarters
Project Location: San Jose, California
Building Type: Office high-rise, computer data center, 16-, 17-, and 18-story towers, 989,000 sq. ft. (92,000 sq. m.)
Recognition Status: Energy Star label, LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 Platinum
DOE Climate Zone: Zone 4 (2,400 HDD, 500 CDD)

Project Overview

Corporate Headquarters — San Jose, California

Adobe worked with Cushman & Wakefield for five years on major energy and environmental upgrades to its world headquarters. The US$1.4 million renovation budget was distributed across 64 separate improvement projects, in areas that included:

• Interior and garage lighting
• Energy load management
• Efficient water fixtures
• Weather-based irrigation
• Mechanical system sequencing
• Measurement and verification
• Waste generation management

Results

“I was one of the naysayers saying ‘No, green costs money, it doesn’t save money.’ [But] boy I’ll tell you, once I started seeing the cost savings, I’ll jump right up on that band-wagon with anybody else because it works.” — Randall Knox III, Director, Global Facilities Services, Adobe Systems After rebates totaling US$389,000, the net cost of all upgrade projects was US$1.11 million. Better yet, Adobe now saves US$1.2 million per year in reduced energy operating expenses, which translates into a whopping 121 percent return on investment and an average payback per project of 9.5 months.