Company Looks to Further Limit The Environmental Impact of Building Operations
In an effort to expand its green and sustainability practices, Advance Realty Group, a leading Northeast U.S. owner and developer of Class A office properties, has accepted the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International’s 7-Point Challenge that asks members of the real estate community to accept the plan as part of everyday business practices.
The challenge includes goals for building owners, managers and tenants that will aid in reducing the use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production. Benchmarks in the 7-Point Challenge include: decrease energy consumption by 30 percent across portfolios by 2012; employ the ENERGY STAR® metrics to benchmark energy performance and water usage; provide education to engineers, owners and operators; perform energy audits to implement low-risk and low-cost strategies; and improve operations and building maintenance systems.
Specific to these benchmarks, Advance Realty Group will work in coordination with building management, ownership and tenants to achieve the following goals:
1. Continue working toward a goal of decreasing energy consumption by 30 percent across its portfolios by 2012, as measured against an average building;
2. At least once a year, benchmark the company’s energy performance and water usage through EPA’s ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool and share results with BOMA;
3. Provide education to its managers, engineers, and others involved in building operations to ensure that equipment is properly installed, commissioned, maintained and utilized;
4. Perform an energy audit and/or retro-commissioning of its buildings, and implement low-risk, low-cost and cost-effective strategies to improve energy efficiency with high returns;
5. Extend equipment life by improving the operations and maintenance of building systems and ensure equipment is operating as designed;
6. Through leadership, positively impact communities and the planet by helping to reduce our industry’s role in global warming; and
7. Position Advance Realty Group and the industry as leaders and solution providers to owners and tenants seeking environmental and operational excellence.
“Advance Realty Group is well-positioned to accept BOMA’s 7-Point Challenge that designed to encourage our industry to voluntarily address energy and environmental issues,” said Ginny A. Carita, vice president, Advance Realty Management, LLC, at Advance Realty Group. “We’re excited about the challenge and the effect we can, and will, have on our environment, buildings and tenants. We look forward to working with BOMA International and other industry leaders to achieve our common goals.”
BOMA International chairman and chief elected officer Brenna S. Walraven, RPA, CPM, added, “Advance Realty Group is a proven leader in energy efficiency and environmental issues and we look forward to working with them on the goals put forward in the 7-Point Challenge. Market transformation is achievable when organizations like Advance Realty Group step up to the challenge.”
About Advance Realty Group
Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., Advance Realty Group is an owner and developer of office, flex, industrial, retail and multifamily properties. With 4.5 million square feet of operating properties and a development portfolio consisting of eight million square feet of commercial projects and 9,400 residential units, Advance is one of the leading real estate owners in the Northeast. For more information, call Advance Realty Group at (908) 719-3000 or visit www.advancerealtygroup.com
