Cushman & Wakefield Partners With BOMA To Further Energy Efficiency Initiative

14 Sep, 2005, New York, NY

BEEP will teach building operators benefits of improving energy performance

Cushman & Wakefield, the world's largest privately held real estate services firm, will partner with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of New York to endorse the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP).

BEEP will pilot a new educational excellence program this month. Rather than relying on new technologies, most of which are expensive, BEEP teaches property owners, managers and operators important no and low-cost strategies for optimizing equipment, people and practices. Conducted on a national level, BEEP aims to set an industry standard for operational excellence.

In addition to improving the environment, BEEP participants will have an estimated possible utility costs savings of up to 30 percent. Other benefits of the program include improved tenant comfort and satisfaction, extended equipment life cycles and increased operational control.

BEEP will offer live training sessions and Web-supported audio seminars. BEEP's six-course curriculum will cover various topics, including how to benchmark energy performance, the economic benefits of energy efficiency and how to build an energy awareness program. Program accomplishments such as energy savings and the associated environmental benefits will be tracked by BOMA and participants will be recognized for achievements.

"As a real estate practitioner in New York for 34 years, I see the need for education on low-cost measures that will help our industry overcome the myths of energy efficiency," said Louis Mantia, director, Asset Services, Cushman & Wakefield. "In our business there are so many competing priorities that even sophisticated operators need to be reminded of the simple operational measures that reduce energy use and increase net operating income. Cushman & Wakefield would benefit from BEEP best practices that can be easily applied to daily operations."

BEEP was developed in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Program and the BOMA Foundation. BEEP will continue to be developed and promoted to the industry through a generous grant from the EPA. The Foundation is soliciting additional grants to support BEEP on a local and national level.

Recognized by BOMA International for its accomplishments, the EPA Energy Star Program, created in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency, has partnered with BEEP to allow participants to rate the efficiency of their buildings by using a web-based benchmarking tool. Buildings receiving a rating of 75 or higher are awarded an Energy Star and receive a plaque to display on the building.

"Cushman & Wakefield, in conjunction with the EPA Energy Star Program, is fully committed to supporting this new industry-transforming initiative," said John Santora, executive vice president, Asset Services, Cushman & Wakefield. "Our team is dedicated to providing high financial returns for our clients through operational excellence in the properties we manage. BEEP will help us to achieve our goals and continue to demonstrate unprecedented value."

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Energy Star was introduced by the US EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the Department of Energy, the program offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 7,000 organizations have become Energy Star partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. Last year alone, Americans with the help of Energy Star, saved enough energy to power 20 million homes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 20 million cars- - all while saving consumers $10 billion. More than 15,000 office buildings, schools, supermarkets and hotels have established benchmarks of their energy performance as a basis for future progress. To learn more, visit www.energystar.gov.

The BOMA Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt organization dedicated to sponsoring and encouraging innovative research and educational activities that advance the commercial real estate industry and profession. The BOMA Foundation is an affiliate of the Building Owners and Managers Association International. To learn more about the BOMA Foundation and BEEP, visit www.BOMA.org.

Cushman & Wakefield is the world's largest privately held real estate services firm. Founded in 1917, the firm has 175 offices in 50 countries around the globe, and 11,000+ talented professionals. Cushman & Wakefield delivers integrated solutions by actively advising, implementing and managing on behalf of landlords, tenants, and investors through every stage of the real estate process. These solutions include helping clients to buy, sell, finance, lease, and manage assets. C&W also provides valuation advice, strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis, and site selection and space location assistance, among many other advisory services. To find out more about Cushman & Wakefield, please call 1-800-376-3133.

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