It’s no secret that by investing in energy efficiency, you can cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy consumption. But investing in energy efficiency across your real estate portfolio also makes great business sense. Energy efficiency represents a key opportunity to help you boost profitability, sales and lease prices, and the long-term value of your property. Green investments can also put you in an advantageous position to meet market demand and as energy legislation moves toward making energy consumption and waste more expensive than it already is. And, your energy-efficient property could become an in-demand place to live or work for tenants looking to make a personal difference for the environment—providing you with a significant advantage over your competitors.
A recent report by Ceres and Mercer takes an in-depth look at reasons why you should turn your real estate green, reasons why not investing in energy efficiency could put you at risk, and outlines key steps that all real estate players can take to improve energy efficiency. According to the report:
- Buildings account for 39 percent of total energy use in the U.S., and 38 percent of total indirect CO2 gas emissions
- In 2009, at least 30 states endorsed green policies requiring some level of involvement with LEED certification
- Retrofitting existing buildings, as well as building more efficient new properties, actually costs less and provides return on investment faster than you might think
- Energy-efficient lighting can have a significant impact on other building systems, including heating and cooling, and power quality
Read the entire report here: https://www.ceres.org/Page.aspx?pid=1172
What’s great about energy efficiency projects is that you can start small—such as with insulation and lighting—and increase the scale of your projects as your budget allows. To learn more about how lighting can help you reduce energy consumption and costs, and increase your property values and competitive advantage, contact Monterey Lighting for a free energy audit.
909.397.8000.
