Commercial real estate organizations commit to improving energy performance by 30% by 2012
(February 21, 2008—Washington, DC) The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s 7-Point Challenge, an innovative energy reduction plan to achieve market transformation in the commercial real estate industry, is gaining momentum as the leading companies and BOMA local associations around the country sign on to endorse the challenge.
BOMA International introduced its Market Transformation Energy Plan, which includes the 7-Point Challenge, to its members in July 2007 as an aggressive but realistic strategy to reduce the use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production in commercial buildings. The goals of the plan include decreasing energy consumption by 30 percent across portfolios by 2012; benchmarking energy performance and water usage through the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® benchmarking tool; and providing education to building owners and operators and others involved in building operations, to ensure that equipment is properly operated and maintained.
“We are very proud to see this important initiative gaining momentum in the industry,” said BOMA International Chairman and Chief Elected Officer Brenna S. Walraven, RPA, CPM, executive managing director, national property management, USAA Real Estate Company. “Commercial real estate professionals understand that in addition to the tremendous financial value created by adopting and executing on the goals of the 7 Point Challenge, implementing ‘green’ management practices also results in a positive return for building occupants and for the environment."
Through the 7-Point Challenge, BOMA is working with real estate professionals, government officials at all levels, as well as a myriad of public and private groups to achieve market transformation. Real estate companies and organizations are using the 7-Point Challenge as both a call to action and a template for developing sustainability programs and improving energy performance.
Companies endorsing the challenge include Carr Services, CB Richard Ellis, Colonial Properties Trust, Cousins Properties, Cushman & Wakefield, Glenborough, Hines, LBA Realty, Opus, Parmenter Realty Group, PM Realty Group, Stream Realty Partners, Transwestern and USAA Real Estate Company.
BOMA local associations endorsing the challenge include Austin, Boston, Greater Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver Metro, Metropolitan Detroit, Houston, Miami-Dade, New Mexico, New York, Oakland-East Bay, Orange County, Orlando and Philadelphia.
The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program has also given the challenge its endorsement.
For more information on the 7-Point Challenge, visit www.boma.org/7pointchallenge.
For more information on the 7-Point Challenge or to schedule an interview with one of the participating organizations, contact Laura Horsley at lhorsley@boma.org, 202-326-6315.
Founded in 1907, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is an international federation of more than 100 local associations and affiliated organizations. The 17,000-plus members of BOMA International own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties in North America and abroad. BOMA’s mission is to enhance the human, intellectual and physical assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research, standards and information. On the Web at www.boma.org.
CONTACT:
Laura Horsley
Director of Communications
BOMA International
(202) 326-6315 or lhorsley@boma.org