by Shane Henson — August 3, 2011—Cushman & Wakefield and Integrity Energy Services have announced a unique agreement with CSA Standards, which will see the global commercial real estate firm and its energy consulting partner take a leadership role in supporting the efforts of commercial real estate properties and enterprises to comply with CSA Standard’s first-of-a-kind CSA Registered Carbon Neutral Program.
Under the agreement, Cushman & Wakefield’s Green Business Standards (GBS)—the partnership between Cushman & Wakefield and Integrity Energy Services—will offer scalable, integrated services and products that align with the CSA Registered Carbon Neutral Program.
With high energy prices and the mounting evidence of climate change damage, the commercial real estate sector—which accounts for an estimated 40 percent of global energy consumption—is increasingly responding to the urgent need to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, achieve significant cost savings, and meet Corporate Social Responsibility objectives.
Sustainability construction, retrofits and other green-related enterprise initiatives have become increasingly mainstream, driven by building owners, tenants and employees. Numerous incentives include operating cost reductions, helping the environment, creating healthier workplaces, and improving long-term competitiveness.
Research shows that sustainable buildings and work environments lead to reduced costs and higher productivity, also helping to attract and retain employees.
In explaining the aligned services offered by GBS, James Baskin, president of Integrity Energy Services, said, “GBS was designed from the ground up to help commercial real estate enterprises of all sizes integrate sustainability into their business model to reduce carbon emissions, reduce costs and reduce risks. The CSA Registered Carbon Neutral Label offers a guiding goal, allowing our customers to assess their carbon footprint against a recognized standards-based program and proceed on a strong path of sustainability.”
