First Green Bank of Eustis Nominated for U.S. Green Building Council Business of the Year

EUSTIS, Fla. – First Green Bank of Eustis has been nominated for Business of the Year in the competition held annually by the Central Florida Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a national coalition of builders, developers, engineers and architects, which sets national standards for “green” construction techniques that promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said he was delighted to learn of the nomination.

LaRoe said business of the year awards will be presented during the chapter’s annual LEEDership awards dinner Oct. 26 at the Hilton Hotel in Orlando.

First Green Bank will open its new corporate headquarters facility on U.S. 441 in Mount Dora before the end of the year.

The facility is anticipated to be the first commercial building on the East Coast to meet the USGBC’s rigorous LEED Platinum Certification standards for design, engineering and construction, is a model for green building standards, LaRoe said.

The new facility was built using recycled and healthy building materials, boasts a recharging station for electric cars, will use approximately 66 percent less energy than a traditionally designed building of the same size, and be 79 percent more water efficient.

First Green Bank currently operates facilities in Clermont and Eustis and recently announced plans to expand to Volusia County.