Webinar: Going Green, Good for Business

NEW YORK CITY-What is often referred to as the “business case” for green real estate is beginning to be understood, documented and quantified. No one can dispute the benefits of a building that conserves the earth’s natural resources, but real estate practitioners have a dual challenge of embracing sustainability while maintaining their fiduciary responsibility.

John Salustri, national online editor of GlobeSt.com, addressed these issues on GlobeSt.com’s hour-long Business of Green webinar, held on Monday, March 24 at 12:30 p.m. More than 500 webcast attendees joined panelists, which included Larry Heard, president & CEO of Transwestern; Victoria Kahn, managing director at ING Clarion; Jim Lutz, SVP of development at Liberty Property Trust; Brenna Walraven, president of BOMA International & executive managing director of National Property Management, USAA; and Dan Young-Dixon, director of design at Opus Architects & Engineers Inc.

The webinar began with the discussion of whether or not one can balance both the need for sustainability and the need to drive profit, which at the same time improves performance. “If we become more efficient in how we operate our business, it will increase returns on the bottom line,” Walraven began. She further explained that tenants will stay longer at green buildings.