Regardless of the pros and cons, landlords and tenants may have no choice but to embrace green building and other sustainability practices. California was the first state to adopt a mandatory green building code, and other states have implemented similar

Despite the hefty cleanup price tag on the nation’s myriad brownfield properties, these economically and environmentally challenged sites represent redevelopment opportunities for developers and other commercial real estate professionals. Clearly, brownfields present challenges for buyers and sellers, including potentially hesitant

Have green properties been more resilient through the downturn? Yes, according to a 2010 CB Richard Ellis study 79 percent of owners surveyed believed that sustainable properties attract and retain tenants. The study, which defined green and sustainable buildings as

Since commercial buildings’ energy use accounts for approximately 18 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, the commercial real estate industry can benefit from and promote using tools to measure its environmental footprint. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star

Energy efficiency is a top priority for all governmental bodies. Depending on state law, many local jurisdictions choose to adopt one of the national building codes or piecemeal their municipal building code. Organizations such as the International Code Council, the

As sustainable design gains a foothold in the commercial real estate sector, many industry professionals see this as a chance to become knowledgeable on all things green. While buildings can earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and

Opus Northwest management is incorporating green features into Crescent ridge Corporate Center I, in Minnetonka, Minn., according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s Existing Building guidelines. To stay in the black, commercial real estate owners,

Are sustainability and energy efficiency upgrades playing a role in today&rsquo s down commercial real estate market? Definitely, say those in the field. &ldquo I recently lost a 20,000 square foot office tenant to a Silver LEED Leadership in Energy

Recently, Dustin C. Gellman, CCIM, chief executive officer of GreenPoint Partners in Chicago, and former CCIM President Richard E. Juge, CCIM, SIOR, cofounder of GreenPoint Partners and president of Re Max Commercial Brokers in Metairie, La., discussed some of the

Energy efficiency may be earth friendly but it also offers bottom line savings and a competitive edge. For example, the 73,000 square foot Ridgehaven building, headquarters for the San Diego Environmental Services Department, realized an annual energy savings of $80,000

There’s no question that green commercial building is grabbing its share of headlines these days. Major corporations such as Toyota, Goldman Sachs, Hearst Corp., and BP have built and moved into environmentally responsible buildings. National commercial real estate companies such

In the last few years, building green has evolved from an idealistic concept shared by a niche group of developers to a mainstream phenomenon in the commercial real estate industry. Most tenants demand energy efficient, sustainable facilities while

Green long has been corporate America's favorite color but not just because it's the color of money. Industry giants ranging from General Electric to Wal Mart are experimenting with eco friendly designs to boost their public images and become more

"You can’t just say, ‘I’m going to do green stuff,’ ” says Rick Walker, vice president of sustainability services for Transwestern in Milwaukee. “You need to be specific about what it means to be green.” With more commercial real estate

This list of online resources provides further information on sustainable design. Most of these sites contain more Web links for further in depth coverage. BuildingGreen.com This site offers a collection of electronic and print resources on design and build construction

When commercial real estate pros think about energy efficient buildings, what usually comes to mind are sleek office properties with state of the art mechanical and structural systems. But office isn&rsquo t the only segment getting into green. Some retail

Federal, state, and local governments are giving commercial real estate developers and owners many reasons to consider going green, mostly in the form of financial and tax incentives. The U.S. Energy Act of 2005 provides a number of incentives for

Many commercial building owners and investors favor green, and now they are discovering that buildings designed with sustainable features are another reason to prize the color of money. Attracted by lower operating and maintenance costs, corporate tenants are recognizing green