The Leader - March/April 2008 - (Page 8)

MessaGe froM tHe ceo by prentice knight, iii prentice knight, iii Green real estate Workplace strateGies aNd sustaiNaBility Historically, corporate real estate (CRE) has been viewed by senior executives primarily from a cost perspective. But increasingly CRE has the opportunity to influence other corporate objectives – such as sustainability goals, public image, work force attraction/retention and worker productivity – through green real estate programs and alternative workplace programs. Consider the following: n A company’s public image has a growing influence on customers, workers and shareholders. n Public and governmental concerns about energy use and global warming have increased significantly over the last few years. n More and more companies are developing corporate social responsibility programs, particularly relating to energy use and the environment. n For most non-industrial corporations, real estate is the largest user of energy and largest source of emissions. n The economics of green buildings and green practices are improving significantly due to the increasing price of energy and improvements in technology. n Some companies are adopting aggressive alternative workplace strategies that enable mobile work and telework and, at the same time, significantly reducing the size of the corporate real estate portfolio. n Reducing the size of the real estate portfolio reduces the corporate use of energy and building materials, as well as the emission of greenhouse gases and waste. n Telework and mobile work programs reduce commuting, which decreases the energy use and emissions associated with worker commuting. For these reasons I believe that CRE has a real opportunity to help the corporation position itself as a good corporate citizen making concrete contributions to environmental sustainability goals. Our industry now has a set of best practices for green buildings, green practices and alternative workplace strategies that can be adopted by many companies. To make this case in a powerful way, however, we need data showing reductions in energy use, materials use, and emissions as a result of green buildings, green practices and alternative workplace programs. Often such data can be generated as part of a project if the measurement of changes in energy use, materials use and emissions is included as an explicit goal of the project. Timing is important. Public concerns about energy and global warming are higher than ever. Corporations are increasingly pressed to attract and retain talent. By using green real estate strategies and alternative workplace strategies synergistically, corporate real estate managers can influence issues of real interest to senior management. CoreNet Global has created a Workplace Community and a Sustainability Community to help address these issues. The Workplace Community is established and beginning to hold meetings and create output. The Sustainability Community was recently established with a strong leadership team of members. Both communities will meet at the San Diego Summit, and I encourage you to join us there. 2 0 0 8 tHe le ade r 8 MarcH / april

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leader - March/April 2008

The Leader - March/April 2008 Leadership Contents Message from the CEO Real Estate in the News Taking CRM Programs to the Next Level A Commitment to Sustainability GSA’s National 3D-4D-BIM Program Sustainability at ABN-AMRO Getting to the Real Issues in Today’s Competitive Marketplace ManPower Consolidates Real Estate & Project Management with One Provider HP's Renee Leach and Team Como's Robin Harris San Antonio's Mario Hernandez Chicago Workplace, Mid-Atlantic, and Boston The Gold Standard: California Is the State for Innovation Pat Crumley: Education Is a Path to Success Postcards from the Edge Tribune's Stephanie Pater Economic Development in the News A Look Ahead EDP Continues Expansion in Asia-Pacific

The Leader - March/April 2008

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