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.