Environmental sustainability is increasingly becoming a top priority for companies, and making your company as green as possible does make good business sense. Not only do sustainable practices protect the planet, but they can also reduce costs and benefit your brand image. As a commercial real estate tenant, you may believe that you have only a limited role in sustainability; however, that's simply not the case. Here are some ways that companies that lease office space can become more sustainable.
1. Choose Green Buildings in the Right Locations
LEED-certified buildings feature the latest in eco-friendly technologies and are a smart choice for green-minded companies. Rental rates may be slightly higher due to increased demand for space and the age of the buildings, but tenants often see offsets in the form of dramatic reductions in utility costs. If you can't find an LEED-certified building with space available, choose newer buildings over older ones, as they tend to be more efficient. Companies that have the benefit of location flexibility may wish to locate in Sun Belt states. Buildings typically require less energy to cool than to heat.
2. Get Help with Your Search
Tracking down the greenest space possible may be time consuming. Consider creating a Sustainability Selection team to research and evaluate properties. Enlist the help of a tenant rep broker who understands that sustainability is a top priority for your company. Brokers can often get you in to see spaces that you otherwise would never be able to discover on your own. Landlords cover the broker fees, so working with one won't increase the costs of your move.
3. Make Green Improvements
Paying for and demanding tenant improvements can make your space more eco friendly. Switching to fluorescent or LED fixtures, installing WaterSense-certified plumbing fixtures and using EnergyStar computers and office equipment all have the potential to pay for themselves in the form of reductions in utility costs.
4. Encourage Green Behavior Among Your Team
Get your entire company on board with your green efforts. Brainstorm ways that you can cut down on energy use. Employees can make an effort to turn lights off when not in use and switch off their office lights on sunny days. Consider incentives for employees that bike or use public transportation to come to work to shrink the size of your company's overall eco footprint.
5. Team Up with Other Tenants
Speak to your landlord and fellow tenants about forming a Sustainability Committee. Together, you can identify possible sustainable initiatives for your building. Landlords are often more willing to participate in such projects when multiple tenants request them with a single voice. Your landlord could focus on everything from serving local organic food in an on-site cafe to updating common areas of the building.
6. Request Data
It can be difficult to know how well your sustainability efforts are working without data to analyze over time. Get your landlord to share sub-metered energy data with you on a monthly or quarterly basis. This way, you can adequately measure the success of your projects and be able to report to your team.
Environmental due diligence is important. Learn More:
Environmental Due Diligence 101 courtesy of American Environmental Corporation
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