Ashforth
One of First in New England and First in Fairfield County
to Adopt BOMA’s 7-Point Challenge
The
Ashforth Company announced that it is one of the first in
New England and the first in Fairfield County, CT to adopt
BOMA International’s (Building Owners and Managers
Association) Market Transformation Energy Plan and 7-Point
Challenge. The challenge was launched in July 2007
to reduce energy consumption used in commercial buildings
by 30 percent by 2012.
BOMA
recognizes that current research estimates that energy consumption
in commercial buildings accounts for 39 percent of US greenhouse
(GHG) emissions. As a result, a building’s operating
and management practices can significantly reduce energy
consumption, diminish the carbon footprint of the building
and lower the GHG emissions. This can be accomplished
by working with real estate professionals, 92 local BOMA
associations and a myriad of public and private groups with
similar goals to transform the market.
Robert
Hartt, executive vice president of Albert B. Ashforth, Inc. – Management
Services, a division of The Ashforth Company, is leading
the charge for the company. “Ashforth owns or
manages 3.1 million square feet of commercial office space
in Fairfield & Westchester Counties and over 10 million
nationwide. We have an obligation to join in the search for
solutions to our country’s pressing environmental concerns.
We are committed to environmental stewardship by taking responsible
actions within our business and our community,” said
Hartt.
Ashforth
is doing their share to reduce consumption 30% by 2012. Below
are some of the actions the company has taken or is planning
to take to achieve this goal and to implement BOMA International’s
seven no- and low-cost operation and management practices.
- Officially
adopted BOMA's Market Transformation Energy Plan and 7-Point
Challenge for Ashforth's entire owned & managed
portfolio.
- Expand
purchases of renewable energy sources for Ashforth's
portfolio and its third-party assignments. In 2007
Ashforth began purchasing 20 percent of renewable energy
for Greenwich Plaza, a 315,000 square foot office complex
owned by Ashforth in Greenwich, CT. Connecticut's
state goal is 20% by 2020 in all buildings. Ashforth's
West Coast office purchases 20% green power portfolio-wide. Price
of green power in Portland, OR has dropped by 84% between
2000 and 2006.
- Ashforth
became an ENERGY STAR Partner and became a member of the
New England Renewable Energy Purchases Program (NE-REP).
NE-REP provides a unique opportunity for large energy buyers
to aggregate their purchasing power to obtain the best
terms and services from renewable energy vendors.
- Obtain
LEED-AP (Accredited Professional) certification for property
managers and lead engineers.
- Benchmark
and document portfolio for LEED-EB (Existing Building)
qualification.
- Building
systems at two owned properties, Greenwich Plaza and Stamford
Square, were re-commissioned to optimize efficiency. A
new chiller was installed at Greenwich Plaza, which will
save $40,000 annually in energy costs.
- Green
Seal or similar eco-friendly janitorial products are specified
in all management contracts. Universal waste materials
(fluorescent lamps, batteries, computer equipment and other
hazardous waste) are recycled at all Ashforth properties. Ashforth
will also minimize or eliminate chemical pesticides, fertilizers
and herbicides at all its buildings. Newly designed landscape
areas will emphasize low-maintenance, drought-tolerant
and native plants (xeriscaping).
- Ashforth
communicates with over 10,000 people working at it's owned
and third-party buildings about how each person can personally
reduce his or her own carbon footprint. The
company regularly emails information on simple personal
home tips, tips for an eco-friendly workplace and lists
to educate on what is recyclable. Ashforth also
holds annual clothing and cell phone drives at its
buildings to help positively impact the community. For
the third year at its buildings, Ashforth held Nike's
Reuse-A-Shoe recycling drive, which takes old athletic
shoes and turns them into surfaces for a variety of sports.
For
additional information on BOMA’s 7-point challenge
and to view a list of other 7-Point Challenge endorsers go
to http://www.boma.org/AboutBOMA/7pointchallenge. Contact
Kim DePra, kdepra@ashforth.com,
to arrange an interview with an Ashforth executive.