NAIOP's Commitment to Green

In response, NAIOP has mobilized to provide members and member companies with education and resources that encourage environmentally-responsible choices, as well as issuing a policy statement that promotes the utilization of sustainable building practices, when possible.

Within NAIOP's headquarters, movements are underway that can reduce environmental impact resulting from conferences, and by the day-to-day activities of the staff.

Below is an overview of the actions that NAIOP is undertaking to promote sustainability within the industry, and what it can do to demonstrate its own commitment to green.

* This site will be updated frequently with new initiatives and actions engaged upon by NAIOP. Updated: December 4, 2007.

Policy and Awards

NAIOP Energy Policy Statement
In a proactive approach to engage its members and the commercial development industry in advancing an economically prosperous and sustainable built environment, NAIOP released it Energy Policy Statement in June 2008. According to this policy, NAIOP commits to:

• Encourage the real estate development industry to employ every technically feasible, cost-effective, sustainable strategy available to increase energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, and to employ cleaner, low carbon energy alternatives (including onsite energy), wherever possible.
• Advance public policies that accelerate ongoing energy efficiency and sustainability gains; support cleaner (including onsite) energy alternatives; and promote, wherever feasible, less carbon intensive transportation options to and from buildings.
• Engage in educational programs, seminars and conferences to help employ best practices for energy efficient development.

The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) values the earth's resources and recognizes the positive impact that sustainable development has on the environment and the properties its members create.

NAIOP believes that the intelligent use of energy, materials and other resources yields environmental benefits, and that the lifecycle of a building - from site development through design, construction, renovation, operations and demolition - should strive to employ every usable, cost-effective, sustainable strategy available.

NAIOP applauds states, provinces, municipalities and communities that offer incentives for sustainable building that enable responsible developers to build better buildings and meet the needs of environmentally-conscious owners and occupants, both today and in the future.

NAIOP encourages its members to seek education and certification resources made available by NAIOP or various organizations that provide an understanding of developing and maintaining high-performance properties.

Green Task Force
NAIOP established a national Green Task Force (GTF) in early 2007 to examine the issues and opportunities associated with green development. The task force comprised commercial real estate professionals experienced in sustainable practices.

The GTF held its first meeting in March 2007. Members of the GTF were asked to volunteer to serve on sub-committees, including Policy; Education; Research; Strategic Alliances and Legislative Issues and Mandates.

Each sub-committee was charged researching their topic and reporting back to the full group on future conference calls, with the goal of making recommendations that NAIOP should consider on a national basis.

Results of the GTF include the establishment of NAIOP's inaugural conference on sustainable development - DevelopGREEN: Sustainable Solutions for Commercial Real Estate; the Sustainable Development Policy; potential future partnerships and continued research into how local, state and federal legislation could be used to incentivize sustainable development.

The GTF has completed their initial charge of opening the lines of communication on the issues surrounding green development, and recommending what policies, education and research would be most beneficial to members. The advisements of the GTF have been turned over to NAIOP's committees for further development and implementation.

Members of the GTF will be asked to continue to serve in an advisory capacity.

Green Development Award
NAIOP established the Green Building Award in 2005 recognize the growing number of member firms engaged in green development. NAIOP and its member companies, who are committed to developing model properties adhering to the highest standards in the industry, believe that socially-conscious development is essential to the economic vitality of the industry and the nation.

The award, developed in consultation with the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation's leading coalition of building industry leaders working to promote environmentally responsible building and development, is bestowed annually to a member company that has best exemplifies innovation, efficiency and quality in the field of green development.

Criteria for the award include the following:

• sustainable sites;
• indoor environmental quality;
• water efficiency;
• energy and atmosphere;
• economic viability;
• materials use
• other sustainable attributes

Past winners of the prestigious award include:

2007		Georgetown Company Liberty Property Trust
2006		Hines
2005		Corporate Office Properties Trust

"NAIOP's Green Development Award is an exciting and important contribution to the green building movement," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the Green Building Council. "This prestigious award will encourage real estate developers nationwide to engage in green development, helping to lead the transformation of our built environment to green. We look forward to working with NAIOP and its members to create a healthy and sustainable future."

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Member Education and Resources

DevelopGREEN: Sustainable Solutions for Commercial Real Estate
In response to member demand for national education opportunities surrounding sustainable development, NAIOP established DevelopGREEN: Sustainable Solutions for Commercial Real Estate, its first conference for March 12-13, 2008.

DevelopGREEN is specifically designed for the development industry and presents a program of information and education on the advantages of building sustainable projects, their public policy and environmental implications, the driving factors surrounding green projects and the latest "how-to" strategies needed to develop financially successful green projects as the trend of sustainable development becomes the industry standard.

Green Development News
NAIOP publishes Green Development News, a monthly e-newsletter dedicated to issues surrounding green development. Each issue features articles on the following topics:

• Research and Whitepapers
• News
• Green Policy Trends
• Green Resources from NAIOP

Green REsource Center
NAIOP established an online Green REsource Center to support developers engaged in "green" and sustainable development.

The site brings together a collection NAIOP's resources related to sustainable development, ranging from publications to current legislative issues and upcoming education opportunities. Available are green-related columns and feature articles from Development magazine; links to publications in the NAIOP Bookstore; and information on sustainable-associated research conducted by the NAIOP Research Foundation.

NAIOP's Green REsource (real estate resource) site was established to meet the growing demand of the membership for resources and education that address green development initiatives. The site will:

• Promote best practices through articles and featured companies in Development magazine;
• Provide information and links to green legislation, in states and federally;
• Feature research reports and published materials to provide "green" education; and
• Serve as an ongoing, updated center for education opportunities.

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NAIOP Headquarters Actions

Conference Materials and Execution
At the development '07 conference, NAIOP launched its conference commitment to hosting "green" meetings. At this and future meetings, environmentally-sustainable practices will be implemented throughout the conference, encouraging all members to join NAIOP in a commitment to reduce, re-use and recycle!

Reduce
Water Coolers and Mugs: Individual bottled water has been replaced by jugs and pitchers of filtered water, with reusable mugs, glasses or recycled cups provided.

Water Savings: At meal functions, water glasses will be filled upon request.

Exhibits: In some exhibit programs, NAIOP is forgoing the traditional booths for banner displays. This cuts down on the emissions used to ship large containers, and it reduces the amount of décor and materials needed onsite. In traditional exhibit formats, recycled materials are used whenever possible.

Re-use
Linens: NAIOP encourages its members to participate in a hotel's linen re-use program for guestroom bed linens and towels, whenever possible.

Floral Arrangements: Floral arrangements are reused throughout an event to save the costs and emissions required to harvest and transport the flowers, plus nearly 30 gallons of water used to fill vases daily.

Recycle
Recycling Collection: Whenever possible, NAIOP will provide collection bins for used aluminum cans, plastic water bottles and paper waste.

Conference Materials: Pocket agendas and other onsite materials are printed on 20 percent post-consumer waste paper, as are sponsored notepads. Whenever possible, other conference give-aways, including conference bags and lanyards, are made from recycled fabrics.

Name Badges: Conference attendees are asked to return plastic name badge holder and lanyards for future reuse.

Printing
Beginning in 2007, NAIOP began printing all conference materials on 20 percent post-consumer waste paper.

Recycling Program
Within its national office, NAIOP has established a recycling program for both office items and food preparation waste. Glass bottles, plastic bottles and cardboard are picked up as part of Fairfax County's non-residential recycling collection. Tin cans and batteries are delivered to offsite recycling facilities.

Reduction of Disposable Goods
NAIOP's national office supports the reduction of non-recyclable kitchen and office items and encourages the use of reusable items.