EPA ENERGY STAR

Working through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program, the commercial real estate industry has for more than a decade engaged in voluntary, market-driven efforts to substantially improve building energy efficiency.

EPA recognizes the degree to which the real estate sector has embraced ENERGY STAR, the federal government’s top certification for energy and environmental performance. In its Fall 2008 “Snapshot,” EPA said “commercial and industrial leaders continued to make great progress in their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their buildings and facilities. In the first six months of 2008, key indicators of progress have already exceeded activity levels from 2007.”

In fact, more than nine billion square feet of commercial space (including hotels) is now ENERGY STAR rated.

As a result, the real estate sector has shrunk its carbon footprint by 18 million metric tons of carbon equivalent, the same as taking 12 million vehicles and their associated emissions off the road, according to EPA.

Green Building Initiative / Green Globes

The Green Building Initiative was originally conceived as a way to bring green building into the mainstream by helping local home builder associations develop green building programs modeled after the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines. While developing a strategic partnership with NAHB, an opportunity emerged to bring a revolutionary learning tool developed in Canada to commercial builders in the United States. Near the end of 2004, the Green Building Initiative finalized an agreement to bring the Green Globes environmental assessment and rating tool into the U.S. market.

U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Members includes building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies and nonprofits.