CenterPoint Properties has closed its inaugural green bond issuance. The issuance will place $250 million in long-term, fixed rate notes, and it illustrates the firm's commitment to ESG in industrial real estate. Sustainability is part of the company's core business practices.

The green bond issuance will specifically target projects with green building construction expenditures and the development and operational maintenance and acquisitions of buildings that receive LEED, Energy Star or other environmental certifications. These projects will help to reduce carbon emissions, drive energy efficiency in buildings and ultimately make communities and local environments safer by removing or properly removing hazardous materials. As a bonus, the proceeds from the green bonds can be used to fund energy efficient projects within CenterPoint's portfolio. This includes equipment systems, operational improvements and other sustainable maintenance.

There has been growing demand for ESG practices and standards in commercial real estate, and the coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated demand—and they are becoming more important in CRE investment decisions. A report earlier this year from GRESB characterized the need for ESG adoption as "urgent," and said that there is a correlation between highly operational buildings and "superior operational performance, lower cost of capital, positive influence on stock prices and reputational value."