With a 2008 energy baseline, Shorenstein Properties committed 21 million square feet to the Better Buildings Challenge, and the results have been impressive, as the commercial real estate giant achieved 20 percent energy savings across its building portfolio.
Shorenstein Properties LLC, one of the oldest and most successful private real estate investment companies active throughout the United States in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of office and mixed-use properties, has long been a believer in energy efficiency and energy management.
Over the past several years, Shorenstein has implemented an expanded energy efficiency program, which has included an engineering tour of all properties to identify efficiency improvements as well as a national “Flip the Switch” tenant engagement campaign to educate building occupants about actions they can take to be more energy efficient.
Since its inception, “Flip the Switch” has helped Shorenstein foster sustainable relationships with its tenants by focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability. The program has led to more active and environmentally conscious tenants, as well as new tenant engagement initiatives. Shorenstein's robust and diverse set of tools and resources attracts and retains high-quality, sustainability-conscious tenants. The company has been recognized for its leadership in tenant engagement. Shorenstein has earned the GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) “Green Star” rating for three consecutive years, in part for the strength of its tenant program. The company has also received local awards for tenant engagement including the BOMA Bay Area’s “Innovative Earth Award” in 2014.
Shorenstein’s Sustainability Committee continues to enhance and expand it tenant engagement program. The lessons learned from prior “Flip the Switch” initiatives are informing the next iterations of tenant-facing sustainability programming at Shorenstein.
The “Flip the Switch” initiative played a huge role in Shorenstein Properties meeting its goal earlier than its initially targeted 20 percent reduction by 2020. Shorenstein will continue to pursue additional energy-savings opportunities throughout its building portfolio, working as a Better Buildings Challenge partner to continue to identify new opportunities to reduce energy consumption across its building portfolio.
To learn more, please visit the Better Buildings Solutions Center.