Commercial buildings consume approximately 20 percent of all energy in the United States with tenants occupying 50 percent of commercial building space. There is an untapped opportunity in this commercial space given that a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption is possible through the application of existing strategies and technologies. Conventional leasing practices can hinder landlords and tenants from investing in energy efficiency in a cost-effective manner. However, adding simple clauses to the lease can create win-win agreements that align costs and benefits of energy and water efficiency investments for both parties.

Green Lease Leaders, created by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Alliance, sets a standard for what constitutes a green lease, and recognizes leaders from a variety of sectors who are implementing green leases to save resources and money. These innovative landlords and tenants are addressing pervasive issues like split incentives, and working to develop leases that facilitate lower utility costs, improve building operations, and achieve sustainability goals. Green Lease Leaders has grown from its inception in 2014 to represent over 1.3 billion square feet of commercial building space -- a signal that energy-aligned leasing is no longer considered the exception, but is becoming best practice in the market.

IMT recently announced enhancements to the Green Lease Leaders program to align with evolving best practices and provide resources to support companies and real estate professionals in reaching their goals. Enhancements include the following:

Interested in learning more about how to receive recognition for your portfolio? DOE and IMT will host a webinar on November 15 to discuss the recent enhancements to the program, application portal navigation, and how to become a participant. 

Title: Get Involved With Green Lease Leaders!

When: November 15, 2017, 2-3 p.m. ET

Registration: Sign up

Learn more about the Better Buildings Alliance.