Corporations Recognize Benefits of Green Globes-CIEB

	The Bristol-Myers Squibb research and development facility in Wallingford, Conn., was the first building to achieve a rating with Green Globes-CIEB. Click here to enlarge the photo

Following the recent launch of the Green Globes module for Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (Green Globes-CIEB), some of the largest corporations and real estate companies in the country have chosen to use it on their existing building portfolios. Notable participants include:

• Bristol-Myers Squibb, which used the tool to assess its research and development facility in Wallingford, Conn., earning a rating of two Green Globes;
• The USAA Real Estate Company, which plans to use Green Globes-CIEB tool to assess up to 20 buildings;
• Tishman Speyer-Chicago, which is gearing up to assess 12 buildings; and
• The Carol Woods Retirement Community, which used Green Globes-CIEB to assess and improve the environmental performance of 10 buildings at its Chapel Hill, N.C. facility.

"Companies like Bristol-Myers Squibb, Tishman Speyer-Chicago and USAA Real Estate Company, which have so enthusiastically responded to the Continual Improvement module, underscore the need for this practical and cost-effective tool for assessing, benchmarking and improving building performance," said Ward Hubbell, president of the GBI. "While more building owners are focused on sustainable design, anyone who has ever owned or managed a high performance structure will tell you that design is only part of the equation. The specifics of a building's operations and maintenance have a tremendous impact on its energy-efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and the many other indicators of sustainability."

Vicki Worden, vice president of Commercial Programs and Business Development for the GBI noted, "Certification under Green Globes-CIEB is available to companies that complete the on-line assessment, requiring a minimum of 12 months of operational data, as well as successful completion of a third-party review by a qualified assessor. Our tool is a great way both to start the process of creating a baseline for your building portfolio and earn valuable recognition for the achievements you've already made."

Green Globes has been formally recognized for use on projects by the United States Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services. GBI is also an ENERGY STAR partner, as both Green Globes modules use ENERGY STAR tools as the basis for energy benchmarking. The Green Globes tool also complements the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) goal of a 10 percent reduction in the energy consumption of buildings. In 2008, GBI signed an MOU with BOMA International to co-promote the two programs.