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Bridging the divide: Reducing operating expenses and pursuing sustainability in leased spaces
Corporate Real Estate Journal,
6
(3),
276-289
(2017)
Abstract
Due to split incentives and complex lease arrangements, tenants and landlords have often pursued sustainability and energy efficiency independently and avoided focusing on the opportunities within leased space. New research on the benefits of sustainability on health and well-being, an increasingly defined connection between sustainability and financial performance, new programmes and resources, and rapidly emerging technologies that drive and demonstrate the business case for improved energy performance have, however, opened new pathways to bridge the divide between tenants and landlords, enabling mutually beneficial collaboration. This paper examines the barriers and benefits for both tenants and landlords to pursue energy efficiency in leased space, and highlights existing and emerging resources and programmes that provide information on how to get started.
Keywords: leased spaces; corporate sustainability; energy efficiency; occupancy cost reductions; worker productivity
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Deborah Cloutier Principal and co-founder, JDM Associates has been providing consulting services in commercial real estate, energy management and sustainability for over 20 years. She currently provides strategic guidance and administrative oversight for the US Department of Energy Better Buildings Initiative. She has extensive experience in designing, developing, implementing and managing sustainability programmes in the built environment and manages multiple complex projects working with some of the nation’s largest investor-owned real estate, including Blackstone, Principal Real Estate Investors and TH Real Estate (formerly TIAA). Under her leadership, these clients reduced operating costs in excess of $200m USD, and consistently receive industry and federal recognition for their leadership. Additionally, Deborah has supported EPA’s ENERGY STAR programme since its inception and helped EPA to develop the business case for energy efficiency in the commercial real estate, hospitality, multifamily and public sectors. She began her career at the American Institute of Architects supporting the Committee on the Environment, and had the distinct pleasure of supporting the Greening of the White House under the Clinton Administration.
Jack Davis Director, JDM Associates has more than 20 years’ experience in the energy, sustainability and marketing arenas and applies his expertise to driving greater engagement in the commercial building sector. Leveraging his diverse background to integrate communications, behaviour change and technical strategies, Jack assists clients with strategy development, programme design and market-based environmental initiatives. Before joining JDM, Jack served as market manager for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (NEEA) BetterBricks programme, leading efforts in the commercial real estate sector.
Jake Dowling joined JDM Associates in May 2013 as a market transformation specialist focused on energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial real estate. He primarily supports JDM’s government clients, serving as the commercial real estate account manager for more than 50 organisations participating in the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative and as a sector specialist developing programmes to engage tenants, brokers and industrial owners and operators on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR programme. Jake also supported the update and relaunch of the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program, a six-part training for building owners and operators on the value of energy efficiency in commercial real estate, and helped to launch and administer the Green Lease Leaders programme.
