SL GREEN REALTY CORP. 2019 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
CEO LETTER
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
GOVERNANCE
033
BUILDING HEALTH
DATA SHARING / REPORTING
TRAINING / EDUCATION
environment. Across the portfolio of LEED certified properties, 74% of cleaning products purchased meet the relevant LEED standards and have a sustainable certification, including Green Seal and Environmental Choice. Our performance in this area exceeds the 30% requirement prescribed under LEED. Property Management is responsible for reviewing equipment inventory and purchase logs quarterly to confirm these stan- dards are maintained. Indoor Air Quality In alignment with LEED standards, our buildings utilize prod- ucts including solvents, carpets, adhesives, paints, and coatings that emit low quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to maintain optimal indoor air quality. All properties meet the LEED requirement of having Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 8 filters to improve indoor air quality throughout tenant spaces, and construction activities are scheduled to minimize tenant exposure to particulates. As part of standard construction protocol, spaces are thoroughly inspected for asbestos, and abatement is performed in 100% of cases where asbestos hazards are identified. Safety / Emergency Preparedness SL Green has implemented an extensive emergency preparedness program to increase tenant safety during pre- carious situations. Property Management teams are trained on response protocol for a variety of events including gas leaks, civil disturbance, and severe weather incidents. Our tenants receive fire safety and workplace violence trainings on a quarterly basis, and we have implemented a communi- cation pipeline with our tenant contacts to provide direction and guidance during emergencies. Additionally, 100% of our portfolio has installed automated external defibrillator (AED) devices to respond to cardiac events, and SL Green employees are offered CPR training. Sustainable Transportation SL Green’s properties operate around the transportation hubs that are at the heart of New York City’s vitality. Ac- cording to LEED surveys administered to our tenants, 90% of building occupants utilize sustainable transportation to commute to and from our buildings, including riding the subway, walking, and carpooling. As a testament to the prime, pedestrian-friendly locations of our Manhattan properties, we scored an average of 99/100 using the Walk Score ® methodology. We have also constructed 12 bike rooms and developed over 20 bike plans to ensure we are accommodating tenants that bike to work across the city.
We are committed to supporting the corporate environmental initiatives of our tenants through capital investments and data transparency. Our team recognizes that when we improve base building efficiency, we help tenants reduce expenses and meet their sustainability goals. With tenants focusing on environmental performance now more than ever, we ensure an- nualized energy, water, and waste consumption data is available.
Tenants are responsible for consuming 60% of a building’s energy, so it is important that we provide them with the tools and education to reduce their carbon footprint. We conduct town hall meetings, marketing campaigns, surveys, lobby events, and webinars to share best practices. Ultimately, behavioral changes such as powering down computers and turning off lights have a significant impact in lowering a building’s emissions.
SL Green is focused on protecting the health and well-being of our tenants throughout the entire operational life cycle of our properties.
ENERGY STAR TREASURE HUNT
Health Building owners should develop best practices for assessing potential health hazards and creating a responsive protocol. SL Green’s Construction and Property Management Teams are required to complete OSHA-10 certification to ensure safety best practices. Site awareness helps our team identify poten- tial biological, chemical, or physical hazards such as asbestos, vermiculite, and legionella. Our cooling towers are disinfected twice a year and are tested every 90 days for legionella bacteria to ensure water quality and safety. This strategy is aligned with best practices prescribed by New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. WELL Portfolio Pilot The International WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) is an evidence-based performance standard developed by Interna- tional WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™). The standard is used for measuring, certifying, and monitoring the performance of building features that impact occupant health. WELL™ prescribes a series of technology enhancements and metrics across ten concept categories: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and com- munity. SL Green is the only owner in New York City to partici- pate in the WELL Portfolio™ pilot with 20 buildings across 16 million square feet , and holds an advisory position to assure that this program delivers immediate and measurable benefits for building occupants. The operations, facility decisions, and policies of our portfolio are aligned with WELL™ standards to uphold SL Green’s responsibility to our tenants. Green Cleaning Green Cleaning conserves resources and limits exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, and the
SL Green’s Sustainability Team works with tenants to identify low cost energy savings opportunities from behavioral, opera- tional, and maintenance decisions. This year we introduced ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunt, a program endorsed by the EPA that includes a walkthrough of tenant spaces to identify day-to-day efficiency improvements. The goal is to enable employees to build a culture of continuous improvement, and reduce energy use, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.
INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES
TENANT ENGAGEMENT Our tenant partnerships are foundational to SL Green’s success. As the business needs of our tenants change, SL Green adapts to create built environments that foster productivity, health, and value.
SL Green is focused on leveraging low cost solutions to en- hance building performance. NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) recently expanded their Commercial Tenant Program, which provides our tenants with free energy audits to help them identify energy savings oppor- tunities in their spaces. We promote this program throughout our portfolio to equip our tenants with the tools to make informed decisions on energy improvements. If tenants choose to pursue capital investments, our team helps them identify financial incentives from local utility companies, including Con Edison.
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