"The goal is to have a greater understanding of what makes a green building," says Steven Ring, director of client solutions for Cushman & Wakefield and an IREM member who contributed to the development of the course. "That term is being thrown around a lot but there really area specific benchmarks and standards that make a green building. There's a lot of data and information about sustainability practices that this course sums up into a day."

Ring was one of the experts in managing sustainable commercial and multifamily properties that IREM recruited for help in developing the course. He says the course's intended audience was broadened over the course of development. Eligible for elective credit toward the National Association of Realtors Green Designation, the class covers sustainable property operations and management, increasing energy and water efficiency, improving indoor environmental quality, and the reduce, reuse, recycle philosophy.

"In the last two years, sustainability has become of the top topics is real estate management," Ring tells GlobeSt.com. "It's one of the big questions a lot of owners are asking, and now we even have tenants asking about sustainability. This is a good course for anyone purchasing, managing, financing or insuring a building." Those interested in registering or learning more can visit www.irem.org/srm001.