"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."
- Ancient Indian Proverb |
EARTH DAY 2009
BOMA International has released "100 Days, 100 Ways," a list of tips and strategies to help property professionals make going green a priority on Earth Day and every day. Just as BOMA is dedicated to "greening" the commercial real estate industry, the Obama administration has pledged to make greening America a centerpiece of its agenda. With only one week separating Earth Day and the close of President Obama´s first 100 days in office, BOMA released the list to commemorate a shared green vision with the new Administration.
The list features tips on energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, indoor air quality and tenant awareness. Here are just ten of the 100 ways commercial real estate professionals can green their operations this Earth Day:
- Benchmark energy consumption through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager
- Harvest rainwater for landscaping
- Institute a tenant Energy Awareness program
- Convert inefficient lamps and ballasts to T8, T12 and T5 lamps
- Add composting to landscape maintenance plan
- Hold an e–waste day and collect old printers, computers and electronics for recycling
- Team clean building floor–by-floor to reduce electricity use
- Install solar shades to block heat
- Install bicycle racks in building for tenants who bike to work
- Use low–VOC paints, sealants and adhesives for building improvements
Download “100 Days, 100 Ways.”
Check out “Yes We Are,” a document outlining BOMA’s green initiatives.
About GREEN
BOMA International believes that reducing energy consumption and taking other steps to “green” existing buildings helps drive ROI, keeps properties competitive with new construction and benefits tenants and the environment. BOMA International is committed to providing the best resources to help building owners and managers wade through the sea of “green” to identify the solutions that work for you and your portfolio.
Consider these statistics: The commercial office building industry spends approximately $24 billion annually on energy and contributes 18 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Energy represents the single largest operating expense for office buildings, typically a third of variable expenses.
BOMA International has a long track record of involvement and accomplishments in energy issues throughout world wars, energy embargoes and today's need to reduce greenhouse emissions and cut energy consumption. In the past decade, BOMA International assisted our membership to understand the evolving electricity marketplace with the publication of Power Shopping in 1996. Since then, BOMA International has produced countless resources and educational programs on all aspects of energy management, and in 2006, the BOMA Foundation launched its highly successful BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP). On the advocacy front, BOMA International was a driving force behind the commercial buildings tax deduction that was included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and will continue to advocate for incentives to help “green” the commercial office industry.
The GREEN is designed to:
- Highlight industry best practices
- Provide updates on the latest trends, solutions and educational opportunities
- Keep you apprised of important advocacy and code developments
- Point you to even more industry resources.
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