The Leader - January/February 2008 - (Page 46) real e stat e maNaGemeNt Meeting the Carbon Challenge: The Role of Commercial Real Estate Owners, Users and Managers BY michael Groppi aNd JerrY BUriN historicallY, issUes sUrroUNdiNG propertY aNd FacilitY maNaGemeNt have FocUsed oN the BUildiNGs themselves – oWNers aNd maNaGers FocUs oN saFetY, maiNteNaNce aNd eNerGY eFFicieNcY to create a WelcomiNG aNd saFe eNviroNmeNt For Users aNd redUce operatiNG costs For stakeholders. H owever, a growing issue facing real estate owners and occupiers of commercial properties today is the increased attention on measurement, containment and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the by-product of burning carbon-based fuels. Concerns about global warming have permeated both the public and private domain and consumption of carbon-based fuels by direct emitters, such as utilities, is no longer the sole focus of discussion. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, the reality is that there is increased pressure on businesses across all industries to evaluate how their organizations affect the environment and to take steps that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. the chaNGiNG atmosphere Water vapor, carbon dioxide and other atmospheric gases trap radiant energy and warm the earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases within the lower levels of the atmosphere, of which 85 percent are carbon dioxide, trap excess radiation which would otherwise escape into space, resulting in higher surface temperatures on Earth. In 2004, world carbon dioxide emissions were just over 25 billion metric tons. By 2030, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that annual world output of carbon dioxide (CO2) will exceed 43 billion metric tons. Much of this increase is 2 0 0 8 the le ade r being driven by economic growth in the developing world, particularly India and China. The U.S. contribution toward this projected increase is just over 8 billion metric tons annually from approximately 5.9 billion metric tons in 2004. Although one-third of all U.S. annual emissions result from burning fuels for transportation, nearly one-half of all emissions are attributed to the commercial and industrial sectors of the economy, either through the burning of carbonbased fuels for heating and manufacturing or through the use of electricity. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change estimates that buildings represent approximately 43 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. In its February 2007 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 46 J aN Ua rY / F e B rUa r Y
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