The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International has announced an addendum to its 7-Point Challenge Market Transformation Plan.
The plan calls on BOMA’s associate members — providers of products and services to the commercial real estate industry — to institute sustainable practices in their business operations.
The new addition to the Challenge calls on BOMA associate members to implement energy efficient and sustainable policies within their corporate facilities. It also calls on them to work with their customers — commercial real estate owners and managers — to provide expertise and knowledge of the products, equipment, services or programs they offer to help customers evaluate green strategies to facilitate market transformation.
Specifically, BOMA calls on its associate members to:
– Continuously develop, enhance and market new product and service offerings to the BOMA community, giving members innovative and cost-effective solutions to deploy in the reduction of energy use in existing buildings;
– Demonstrate leadership by working toward a goal of decreasing energy consumption 30 percent by 2012 and implementing sustainable strategies in corporate facilities;
– Actively participate in public-private partnerships (such as the DOE’s Energy Alliances) to identify voluntary energy efficiency strategies with proven results and application to existing buildings;
– Share research and/or case studies on building operating and management practices, equipment replacement, or building retrofit projects, etc., that achieve the goal of reducing energy consumption and result in a positive ROI;
– Work with policymakers to enact voluntary, incentive-based programs to accomplish their goals of implementing green strategies;
– Work cooperatively within the consensus model building codes process to develop responsible energy codes and green buildings standards that reduce energy consumption utilizing cost-effective and proven technologies; and
– Provide opportunities and support for company employees to participate in education programs about energy conservation and sustainable practices.
Launched in July 2007, the plan challenges BOMA members to reduce the use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production throughout the commercial building marketplace.
Since its launch, BOMA's 7-Point Challenge has been embraced throughout the marketplace, with more than 120 member companies and local associations representing more than three billion square feet of office space endorsing the Challenge, according to BOMA.
