11-24-17

Real Estate Journal — Owners, Developers & Managers — November 24 - December 7, 2017 — 19B

www.marejournal.com

M id A tlantic

O wners , D evelopers & M anagers By Missy Henriksen, National Association of Landscape Professionals Three Simple Steps toward a sustainable commercial space

shake up the commercial real estate industry, the need for for- ward-think- ing concepts l i ke green b u i l d i n g s and sustain- W

hile urbanization and demographic shifts continue to

thought of kick starting a sustainable landscape on your property seems overwhelming, keep in mind there are many low-cost, sustainable projects that won’t require a complete overhaul of your commercial space. Not sure where to be- gin? Here are three simple steps to take when tackling water and energy reduction on your commercial landscape. 1. Water Wisely: Water shortages continue to be a major issue in many parts of the country. In an effort to lessen the environmental impact of your commercial

landscape, consider working with a landscape professional who can manage water usage by implementing regular ir- rigation system inspections and installing efficient irri- gation heads that use smart controllers. 2. Plant Purposefully: While all plants benefit the environment through their release of oxygen, it’s impor- tant to choose plants wisely when planning a sustainable landscape on your commer- cial property. A simple way to reduce a property’s carbon footprint is to select native

or drought-tolerant plants that will easily adapt to your region’s climate. 3. Seek Certifications: Another way to bring your property’s sustainability up to speed is to obtain eco-certifica- tions. The most widely used green building rating system, Leadership in Energy and En- vironmental Design (LEED), which is overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a prestigious symbol of sustain- ability achievement. Ready to take your commer- cial property to the next level? From retail to residential,

landscape professionals can design and install sustain- able landscapes on your prop- erty that are environmentally friendly, reduce maintenance costs and can boost your build- ing’s bottom lines. Missy Henriksen is vice president of public affairs for the National Associa- tion of Landscape Profes- sionals , which represents an industry that employs nearly one million landscape, lawn care, irrigation and tree care professionals. Learn more by visiting LoveYourLandscape. org. n

Missy Henriksen

able landscape practices re- mains steady. After all, com- mercial properties can take a toll on energy and water usage. A recent report by the National Association of Real- tors found that commercial buildings account for nearly 19 percent of energy usage, 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 88 percent of water consumption in the country. Offering commercial build- ings rental growth and as- set valuation as they reduce maintenance costs, the incor- poration of sustainable land- scape practices in commercial properties is a simple way to reduce energy and water us- age and boost bottom lines. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, com- mercial real estate pro ts can signi cantly improve with the adoption of sustainable practices. While sustainable land- scapes may be appealing to property managers and own- ers, if a commercial space is not new construction, devel- opers are faced with the chal- lenge of incorporating sustain- able practices into a building’s existing landscape. If the related Local Laws, including LL 84 Benchmarking, opens up requirements into uncharted territory. For specific answers to Local Law 84 questions, go to: “NYC Benchmarking Law Frequently Asked Questions” – a printer friendly “site” which includes instructions as well as a Benchmarking Help contact number. For buildings over 50,000 sf, see this as a heads up to carefully review all re- quired energy saving regula- tions to make sure that you develop your own best track for compliance. George Crawford is prin- cipal of Green Partners LLC. n continued from page 26B Benchmarking Requirements . . .

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