Cushman & Wakefield Further Advances Environmental Successes and Commitments

6 Dec, 2010,

Cushman & Wakefield today announced the results of its semi-annual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) progress report, in conjunction with the launch of its 2011 Environmental Challenge.

This report highlights the firm's energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives, which are tracked and analyzed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the MOU established between the two organizations in 2009. The MOU aims to enhance energy efficiency, improve resource management, and reduce the carbon footprint of the firm's own offices and managed properties throughout the United States.

In the six (6) months ending June 2010, these initiatives resulted in a reduction of 34,029 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTC02e) from energy, water, and waste activities in the firm's national managed portfolio; since the first report in June 2009, the reduction totals 125,017 MTC02e. This is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 24,086 vehicles; or carbon dioxide emissions from 14,287,627 gallons of gasoline burned; or carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity used in 15,415 homes over a period of one year.

Utilizing EPA resources, 428 properties under management by the firm were measured for reductions, with results taken from a representative sampling that accurately benchmark and share energy, water, and waste data. This represents a total of 94.1 million square feet with an average property size of more than 230,000 square feet.

In conjunction with these impressive accomplishments, Cushman & Wakefield also announced the launch of its 2011 Environmental Challenge. Initiated in 2009, the Environmental Challenge was developed to reinforce and track Cushman & Wakefield's commitments outlined in the MOU.

"Last year, Cushman & Wakefield demonstrated national leadership as the first commercial real estate firm to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," said John Santora, chief executive officer of Cushman & Wakefield's Global Client Solutions group. "With our 2011 Environmental Challenge now underway, we continue to document our progress, execute on our plan, and achieve the goals we established to reduce our carbon footprint while encouraging our clients to do the same."

The 2011 Environmental Challenge initiative advances a number of measurable environmental objectives underway at the firm including a corporate goal to reduce energy consumption, water use, and waste disposal by 10% by the year 2012 over a 2008 baseline.

As a professional incentive for employees to participate in the challenge and share data on environmental objectives, Cushman & Wakefield is offering five distinguished service awards, with cash prizes to be distributed among individual participants whose property management teams top each award category.

Participants will be required to benchmark energy use and water consumption in Portfolio Manager, EPA ENERGY STAR's free online benchmarking tool, report waste disposal in Re-TRAC, EPA WasteWise's free online tool, and share data with C&W corporate accounts in Portfolio Manager and Re-TRAC.

For more information on the Memorandum of Understanding progress report or the 2011 Environmental Challenge, please contact CSSustainability@cushwake.com.

# # #

back to real estate News & Events

Printer Friendly Version