by Shane Henson — October 28, 2011—Thanks to the Green Tenant Toolkit, an online resource created by the San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE) and the Business Council on Climate Change (BC3), facilities managers in San Francisco and elsewhere may find it much easier to work with their building owners and occupants to help buildings become more energy efficient.
Inspired by the Mayor’s Existing Commercial Buildings Task Force Report, published in 2009, the Green Tenant Toolkit includes best practices for tenants and building management to engage in win-win environmental initiatives, a guide to integrating green lease language into negotiations, and a scorecard to summarize key sustainability metrics for any property—whether or not it has a green certification.
“Split incentives” are a key problem, where the person who pays for an energy retrofit might not be the one that benefits. The toolkit is designed to help owners and tenants mutually benefit. Eliminating barriers to sustainability throughout the life of a commercial lease helps to minimize operating costs, save water, reduce carbon emissions, and increase energy efficiency.
Although designed for San Francisco buildings, the toolkit may be adapted for use in any location, says SF Environment. The toolkit was produced by a Business Council on Climate Change working group of twenty-six professionals from leading commercial real estate companies, design and architecture firms, law firms, model tenants, and building trade organizations.
