April/May 2009
Sustainable Development
C O N T E N T S
Executive Director's Corner: Standing with Giants, by Deb Kleinman
Special: Remembering Greg Franta, by Annette Stelmack
LEED: Aardex Receives Second Platinum LEED Certification from the USGBC, by Mike Hehir
Energy Incentives: Xcel Announces New Incentives, by Erine Mathe
Sustainable Development: Grassroots Efforts Support a Sustainable Ethic, by Sarah Martinez
Government: Greening the Government: State Leads by Example, by Angie Fyfe
Case Study: Extracting Value From NAIOP's Highly Criticized Building Cost Report, by Courtney France
Go Green, Save Money: Rep. Perlmutter Legislation Promotes Going Green To Save Green, by Christopher Votoupal
Colorado Building Green is the official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter, and is published bi-monthly. If you are interested in submiting a story, ideas or other information for publication, please contact the editor at sarah@usgbccolorado.org
Grassroots Efforts Support A Sustainable Ethic
More and More Real Estate Developers Jump Onboard
By Sarah Martinez , Sustainability Analyst, Prologis
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Over the past few years, the number of real estate developers pledging their allegiance to sustainability has increased substantially. More often than not, this commitment has focused on third-party green building programs, such as LEED, or in some cases, ways to retrofit existing facilities with energy-efficient or environmentally-friendly technologies.
The “green” building movement has legs because the benefits for doing so are numerous: not only do facilities built to green standards often produce fewer carbon emissions, utilize local and recycled resources, and reduce waste during construction, but they can also help the customers that lease the space reduce their operational energy costs. Increasingly, green-rated facility owners are seeing a competitive advantage in terms of leasing and customer retention.
And, this trend continues to evolve – despite the down economy. Not surprisingly, more and more companies with sustainability platforms have started to look inward as they refine what their commitment to sustainability means to them. For many, this means applying a sustainable approach not only to the products they deliver, but through all of the actions taken by the company.
Establish a Framework
Over the years, the real estate industry has experienced the rapid growth and market acceptance of green building practices. In most cases, the individuals responsible for development and leasing run point on these projects. However, while these efforts have made a significant impact, it would be difficult to say that they always translate into a culture of sustainability across all levels of real estate companies. So, how can companies make sustainability a part of their DNA versus being something only a handful of people can get involved with?
A sustainable ethic, so to speak, entails the actions a company collectively takes to reduce all aspects of its environmental impact, from product development to day-to-day operations, employee and customer engagement, marketing and communications, and any other element of the company’s business. My company, ProLogis, has addressed this question by establishing a network of volunteers that are willing to help further the company’s sustainability initiatives on a local level. This includes minimizing each office’s impact on the environment and contributing to the local communities in which we operate. Today, these Sustainability Champions have the following objectives:
- Elevate awareness of sustainability within the company;
- Improve sustainability-related communication and data sharing;
- Reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and enhance our communities.
In essence, an internal program can provide a formal channel for employees to get involved and connect with associates they may not otherwise work with. In addition, it can drive awareness of sustainability in a grassroots manner across the company, which ultimately supports the effectiveness of the programs created.