In Money Conscious Episode 11: The Story of Thornburg Investment Management’s Extraordinary LEED Gold Certified Headquarters, my guest is Sergio Silva, Facility Manager at Thornburg Investment Management’s 100,000 square foot certified LEED gold headquarters in Santa Fe. Sergio joined the company in 2015 and currently oversees all aspects of building and grounds maintenance, including physical infrastructure, security, testing and inspections, environment, and health and safety requirements.

Recently at a conference hosted by Thornburg, Sergio gave me a tour of the headquarters. I was absolutely fascinated as he described the foresight and comprehensive planning that went into the design, construction, and ongoing maintenance of this green building, and how the development of new technologies means that over time the energy efficiency is increased, and the environmental impact of the building grows lighter.    

I asked Sergio to share with my listeners what makes this building such an excellent example of the extraordinary efficiency that can be achieved when businesses choose to make their buildings green. 

In today’s episode, Sergio and I share the highlights from my tour, including how:

• The building was designed to use 47% less energy and 43% less water than a facility of a typical size.


• This building has achieved 100% carbon neutrality. The rooftop installation of solar panels produces a surplus of energy annually, directing the unutilized power from the building back to the local power grid. This clean energy counters Thornburg’s carbon emissions and offsets its carbon footprint.


• Passive water harvesting, an underground cistern and an outdoor porous paving system allow the headquarters to reduce outdoor water use and direct cleaner water back into the community.


• Significant environmental elements are integrated into the interior and exterior of the building. 


• Noteworthy interior features include a highly efficient underfloor air delivery system, sensor-controlled T5 lighting, operable windows, low-emitting materials and extensive controlled daylighting to make use of solar energy. 


• The building honors the beauty of Santa Fe’s natural environment while incorporating the latest in building technology and design.


• And much, much more!

Show Notes:

• Please review the Thornburg Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Annual Report released in June 2022 - link: https://www.thornburg.com/pdfs/csr-annual-report-2022. It contains additional insight on the building and Thornburg’s approach to the environment and sustainability. Pages 20-21 are specific to the building, with additional details throughout the report.


• In every episode of Money Conscious, host Sacha Millstone talks with exciting, knowledgeable guests about what it means to invest our money consciously. The title Money Conscious reflects two priorities we’re passionate about at The Millstone Evans Group: putting your values where your money is, and raising consciousness about money matters in an easy, personal and relatable way. 


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• Visit The Millstone Evans Group website for more information about the company.