BOMA Unveils 7-Point Green Push

NEW YORK CITY-The Building Owners and Managers Association International challenged its members and the real estate industry to improve energy efficiency yesterday. The organization presented its transformation energy plan on the 44th floor of Hearst tower, the first green office building in New York City history to receive a gold rating.

The plan includes a 7-Point Challenge for members to reduce the use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources, waste production and work in coordination with building management, ownership, and tenants to achieve the following goals:

• Continue to work towards a goal to decrease energy consumption by 30% across portfolios by 2012;
• Benchmark energy performance and water usage through EPA’s ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool;
• Provide education to building managers, building owners and operators, engineers, and others involved in building operations, to ensure that equipment is properly maintained and utilized;
• Perform an energy audit and/or retro-commissioning of buildings and implement low-risk, low-cost strategies to improve energy efficiency with high returns;
• Extend equipment life by improving the operations and maintenance of building systems and ensure equipment is operating as designed;
• Through leadership, positively impact your community and your planet by helping to reduce your industry’s role in global warming; and
• Position yourself and the industry as leaders and solution providers to owners and tenants seeking environmental and operational excellence.

Panelists included Kurt Padavano, BOMA International chairman and CEO, BOMA International incoming chairman, Brenna Walraven, Brian Schwagerl, VP of real estate and facilities planning for Hearst Corp., Stuart Brodsky, national program manager of commercial properties ENERGY STAR at the US Environmental Protection Agency and Karen Penafiel, VP of advocacy at BOMA International.