Green Trailblazers

IREM recently participated in events that shine a spotlight on leaders in sustainable real estate. These events provide recognition for hard-working teams that have achieved new heights in efficient property performance. They demonstrate that a top-down, leadership-driven approach, strategic planning and a focus on continuous improvement are the keys to success with sustainability programs.

The real estate management industry is largely accustomed to sustainability best practices at this point. By recognizing leaders who deploy those best practices, the industry gains outstanding examples of long-term sustainability strategies and the benefits that properties and portfolios enjoy from constantly pushing ahead with new cost-saving efficiency measures.

ENERGY STAR® Awards

In April, IREM was honored as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR Awards ceremony in Washington D.C. The EPA presents the Sustained Excellence Award to partners that have already received ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year recognition for a minimum of two consecutive years and have gone above and beyond the criteria needed to qualify for recognition.

IREM was recognized in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category for integrating ENERGY STAR tools and resources into the IREM Certified Sustainable Property (CSP) program. This program includes the new medical office building and senior housing programs, as well as research and education initiatives—funded by the Yardi Energy Efficiency Grant—that include ENERGY STAR.

Accepting the award on behalf of IREM was Angela Aeschliman, CPM, CCIM, LEED AP ND, senior vice president of asset and property management for The Missner Group and 2019 IREM Sustainability Advisory Board chair.

Others in the IREM community were also honored at the ceremony for their excellence in energy management using ENERGY STAR tools and resources. Included in this group were CBRE Group, Inc., AMO, and Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., AMO, as well as IREM CSP Volume Program participant companies Bentall Kennedy (U.S.) Limited Partnership, Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC, and Welltower Inc. IREM Industry Partner Yardi Systems, Inc. was also honored in the Service and Product Provider category.

Los Angeles Better Buildings Challenge (LABBC) Innovation Awards

I had the pleasure of serving as a judge and award presenter for the 2019 LABBC Innovation Awards, which recognize energy and water efficiency accomplishments in properties and portfolios in Los Angeles.

NBCUniversal carried the top prize in the energy efficiency category for a series of projects at 10 Universal City Plaza. Marriott International’s Westin Bonaventure won the water efficiency award, and Brookfield Properties won best portfolio. Other outstanding finalists included Equity Residential, AvalonBay Communities, CommonWealth Partners and Paramount Studios.

As a market and community, Los Angeles is forging new ground in sustainability, as explained by keynote speaker Lauren Faber O’Connor, chief sustainability officer for the city—and sustainable real estate innovators are key to its pursuit of becoming a cleaner, greener metropolis.