After the U.S. Department of Energy halted its Energy Star program for medical office buildings in 2013, real estate investment trust Welltower developed its own proprietary system to evaluate total building performance.
The company’s Green Arrow Building Certification (GABC) program measures energy, water, waste, indoor air quality, and innovation. Over 230 properties in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. participate in the program each year, with115 properties achieving certification.
The GABC program has helped identify areas of improvement and items in need of corrections. Most properties have seen a 1%-12% reduction in energy use as a result of the program. Energy, water, and waste usage are tracked monthly, and reports are sent to all real estate managers and engineers for review. Any buildings with an increased usage of 5% or more must be reviewed for probable causes to explain variances.
Welltower contracted with a third-party energy consultant to develop the program. Green Arrow was based on the foundation of both Energy Star certification and the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).
Related Stories
| Nov 16, 2012
New ANSI/BIFMA standards developed for educational seating
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved the newly developed safety and performance standard for educational seating: ANSI/BIFMA X6.1-2012—the first of its kind.
| Nov 16, 2012
Green building councils in 62 countries expect 60% of their work to be green by 2015
More than half of the respondents to a survey of members of the Green Building Council in 62 countries expect green projects to comprise 60% of their work by 2015.
| Nov 16, 2012
Voters approve fewer construction ballot measures in 2012 than in 2008
Voters passed fewer ballot measures related to construction projects this year than they did in 2008, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America.
| Nov 9, 2012
New ANSI/BIFMA standard adds point for lower formaldehyde emissions
The ANSI/BIFMA e3-2012 Furniture Sustainability Standard now includes an additional point for furniture products that meet a new, lower formaldehyde emissions limit.
| Nov 9, 2012
Higher bar on LEED may not be harder to reach
The U.S. Green Building Council expects to substantially revise LEED next year, requiring builders beginning in 2015 to take new and more-detailed steps to get buildings certified.
| Nov 9, 2012
CSI’s sustainability practice group offers webinar on EPA's WaterSense Program
The Construction Specification Institute’s sustainability practice group is offering a webinar Nov. 20 on EPA’s WaterSense Program, featuring Lynn Gilleland, drinking water specialist with EPA’s New England office.
| Nov 9, 2012
Mayor in Calif. wants to expedite permits for $1B worth of projects
The mayor of San Jose, Calif., plans to issue new construction permits worth an estimated $1 billion in the next six months to spur job creation and create revenue for the city.
| Nov 9, 2012
Jury awards N.Y. roofer $2 million for injuries after construction site fall
A roofing worker from Cortland County, N.Y., has been awarded $2 million in damages due to the injuries he sustained from a 60-foot fall at a dormitory construction site.