Celebrating excellence

The real estate management industry continues to recognize the significance of applying environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) standards toward a more sustainable future. IREM has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices and, in 2015, created the IREM Certified Sustainable Property (CSP) program, a certification designed for existing buildings implementing green real estate management practices. For two weeks in April, in partnership with IREM and Jackson Control, the IREM Foundation hosted a crowdsourced competition between five recipients of the inaugural 2023 Jackson Control Sustainability Awards to select a People’s Choice for Sustainable Property Award. The Jackson Control Sustainability Awards recognize exceptional performance among IREM CSPs in advancing sustainable practices in property management.

IREM CSP certification: A meaningful and attainable recognition 

A multi-attribute certification, the IREM CSP includes categories for energy, water, health, recycling, and purchasing. More than 1,400 IREM CSP certifications have been awarded across medical office, multifamily, office, industrial, shopping center, and senior housing asset classes. Companies with CSP properties cite the approachability of the requirements and the templates and tools in the certification materials as the key benefits of participating in the program. They include the CSP in their building certification strategy to enhance their annual ESG reporting and communicate to stakeholders, including investors and tenants/residents, that sustainability is important to them.

Honoring exceptional CSPs with the Jackson Control Sustainability Awards

Jackson Control Sustainability Award winners are chosen based on their significant contributions to sustainability, energy conservation, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Greg Ericksen, chairman and CEO of Jackson Control Co. Inc., said, “Sustainability is about saving our planet. Buildings waste more than 30% of energy usage and produce more than 40% of CO₂ emissions. The Jackson Control Sustainability Awards honor the real estate leaders and teams leading the way with sustainability best practices. Sharing sustainability success stories and recognizing leadership achievements creates a better world for everyone.”

The inaugural 2023 Jackson Control Sustainability Awards showcased a remarkable lineup of IREM CSP winners that included:

• Senior housing: Atria at Foster Square
• Retail: Brookhaven Shopping Center
• Office: The Minneapolis Grain Exchange Complex
• Medical office: Missionary Ridge MOB
• Multifamily: The Pradera

This award program highlights the partnership between all property stakeholders, including owners, investors, property managers, maintenance teams, vendors, tenants, and residents. Case studies on each property highlight the sustainability practices they implemented and the ESG strategies of the property management companies and investors.

All category winners were finalists for the People’s Choice for Sustainable Property Award. Close to 700 votes were cast, and the winner, selected via popular vote, was The Pradera, a garden-style property blending sustainability with the natural environment.

Commenting on The Pradera’s People’s Choice for Sustainable Property Award, Alan King, managing director, head of property management, Berkshire Residential Investments, Inc. says, “In support of the BerkshireTHRIVE program’s goal of creating value for our residents, employees, and investors, we use green certifications like IREM to market sustainability attributes of our properties to residents. Achieving IREM CSP certification helps us reduce operational costs and educate our on-site teams about sustainability best practices. As part of this initiative, The Pradera has implemented highly efficient appliances and lighting in residences, installed smart irrigation systems that complement drought-tolerant grasses and aloe plants, and held resident engagement events that promote sustainable living practices, all of which helped the property achieve IREM CSP certification in 2022. We are proud of our team members at The Pradera for implementing green practices throughout their operations and being a great example of how BerkshireTHRIVE benefits our residents, employees, and investors.”

Continuing the conversation at the IREM Global Summit

Inspired to have your property embark on its sustainability journey? Want to hear what your peers are doing in the ESG space? Join panelists, consisting of representatives from Jackson Control, The Pradera, Missionary Ridge MOB, and Atria at Foster Square, at the upcoming IREM Global Summit on Oct. 12, 2023. As these industry leaders share their ESG expertise and experiences, attendees will learn property-specific advice, metrics to monitor, and innovative and cost-effective ways to maximize operational efficiency and financial returns. 

For additional information on ESG initiatives, IREM offers the following tools and support:

• Earn the IREM Certified Sustainable Property (CSP).
• Enroll in the new IREM Skill Badge: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) or IREM skills on-demand courses.
• Learn how technology can enhance the performance of your properties.
• Implement sustainability best practices from a research study on the CSP.