FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(WASHINGTON—April 21, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International with a 2009 Climate Protection Award in honor of BOMA’s exceptional leadership, outstanding innovation, dedication and technical achievements in climate protection. Winners, which include individuals and organizations, are chosen on the basis of originality and public purpose; persuasive, moral or organizational leadership; global perspective and implication; and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s winners are being honored today at a ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award for our green initiatives,” remarked BOMA International Chair and Chief Elected Officer Richard D. Purtell, portfolio manager, Grubb & Ellis Management Services, Inc. “We strive to provide solutions that benefit our members while also protecting the environment. This award is a testament to the fact that sustainability and profit go hand in hand.”
BOMA is being recognized for four initiatives: the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP), the 7-Point Challenge, BOMA’s Green Lease Guide, and the BOMA Energy Performance Contract (BEPC) model.
BEEP is an innovative operational excellence program that teaches commercial real estate professionals how to reduce energy consumption and costs with proven no- and low-cost strategies. To date more than 14,000 industry professionals have participated in the BEEP seminars. More about BEEP.
BOMA’s 7-Point Challenge aims to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent by 2012 across real estate portfolios, as measured against an average building measuring a 50 on the ENERGY STAR® benchmarking tool. The 7-Point Challenge has gained universal industry acceptance. More than 110 companies and affiliated organization, representing more than two billion square feet of office space, have endorsed the Challenge. More about the 7-Point Challenge.
In 2008, BOMA released the industry’s first green lease guide, an instant best-seller. The guide includes enforceable lease language to ensure tenants comply with the building’s green priorities and includes annotations for ENERGY STAR, LEED and GBI rating programs. More about the Green Lease Guide.
BOMA partnered with the Clinton Climate Initiative to launch the BOMA Energy Performance Contract, a model toolkit that makes major energy retrofits to existing buildings easier and more affordable than ever before. More about BEPC.
“BOMA International will continue to lead the way by delivering the solutions that will propel commercial real estate toward a sustainable and thriving future,” added BOMA International 2007-2008 Chair and Chief Elected Officer Brenna S. Walraven, RPA, CPM, managing director, national property management, USAA Real Estate Company, and one of the chief architects of the BEEP program and BEPC model.
For more information on BOMA’s sustainability initiatives, visit the BOMA G.R.E.E.N.
About BOMA International
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 18,000-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
Lindsay Tiffany
(202) 326-6365>
ltiffany@boma.org