Make Every Day EARTH DAY - Top 10 Ways Building Managers and Tenants Can Be Green

BOMA San Francisco recommends Top 10 Ways commercial real estate professionals can make energy efficiency and sustainability a priority every day.  With the office building industry accounting for nearly 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, BOMA members are committed to helping the industry as a whole improve energy management and sustainability practices. 

“Earth Day may be technically over, but we practice it every day of the year at BOMA,” says BOMA San Francisco Executive Vice President Marc Intermaggio. “These tips offer property professionals effective operational and management strategies for reducing energy consumption and elevating sustainability. It’s important to remember that making significant energy-efficiency improvements is within the reach of most building owners and managers, and many of the methods are no or low-cost.”

Here are the Top 10 Ways commercial real estate professionals can green their building operations:

• Measure and Manage - Benchmark energy and water consumption through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager. 
• Audit Yourself - Perform regular energy audits to identify opportunities for cost-effective energy reductions. Remember to perform midnight evaluations to make sure lighting and HVAC aren’t running when the building is unoccupied. 
• Get the Word Out -  Institute a Tenant Energy Awareness Program – use your company newsletter and/or building announcements to keep tenants informed about energy management goals and how they can help. Provide them with energy savings tips. 
• Become Enlightened - Replace incandescent lights with CFLs, which use less energy, have a longer lamp life and produce less heat. 
• Go Low Flow - Install low-flow/flush fixtures and hands-free fixtures in restrooms. 
• Don’t Forget Electronics - Hold an e-waste day and collect old printers, computers and electronics for recycling. 
• Use Sensors - Install occupancy sensors and photo sensors that monitor daylight. Occupancy sensors also work for HVAC controls. 
• Be Shady - Install solar shades to block heat. 
• Encourage Eco-Friendly Transportation - Install bicycle racks and electronic vehicle chargers. 
• Improve IAQ - Use high-efficiency HVAC filters – and change them often. Use low-VOC paints, sealants and adhesives for building improvements.