Building Transparency Latest Trend in Sustainability Efforts

The U.S. EPA’s Energy Star program continues to be a guiding light in the efforts to improve and maximize energy efficiency. Sustainability-related issues were among the main topics at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C. last month during the 2011 BOMA International Convention and The Every Building Show. 

At the event, REIT.com caught up with Leslie Cook, public sector manager with Energy Star’s Commercial Building Program, to see what the latest developments in this area are. 

“Energy Star partnerships are skyrocketing. Use of trends in benchmarking and assessing commercial building energy use are also skyrocketing,” Cook said. 

One of the latest trends in the industry is building energy transparency, Cook said. “For tenants who are leasing a commercial space, a potential buyer/leaser of a newly available commercial property, or even local or state governments who are interested in increasing the building’s performance to the market, understanding energy usage is becoming more important,” Cook said, adding that is one of the main drivers in interest for Energy Star and its services. 

Another area on the rise is tenant engagement given the influence a property manager can have to work with a tenant, or vice verse, Cook said. “We can look at what choices are we all making to improve the energy efficiency in the building,” she said. 

In terms of return on investment for green initiatives, Cook said it is essential that building owners first get an accurate sense of where the building is starting at in terms of its energy usage. 

“With any efficiency project they embark on, be it a technology that they are looking to upgrade, a lighting, ventilation or HVAC project, or even an employee engagement effort, if you know where you are starting from by benchmarking you can track your progress over time to make sure you are getting the return on investment you expected from the start,” Cook said.