Executive Summary
Energy consumption, water usage and materials procurement in the commercial building sector of the United States result in substantial environmental impacts. Yardi Systems Inc., the global leader in property management software, is in a unique position to facilitate building performance improvements through its established market share. By developing the Sustainable Property Rewards Initiative, we will provide the education and tools necessary to improve building performance, reduce energy and water consumption, and implement sustainable materials purchasing policies throughout Yardi’s client base.
Numerous barriers to the implementation of green building improvements exist, and although financial, managerial, and regulatory issues prove to be substantial obstacles to improvement, it is often a lack of information that prohibits property managers from making decisions concerning these improvements. Providing property managers with existing options to improve building performance, as well as the benefits and costs associated with these improvements can lead to measured reduction in this sector’s environmental impact.
The development of the SPR Initiative will first involve the launch of a Pilot Program that concentrates on a subset of commercial buildings managed by Yardi’s clientele. The environmental impacts of each participating commercial building will be measured and analyzed through an audit process that concentrates on energy and water consumption, as well as materials use. This audit process will yield recommendations for increasing efficiency and sustainability in each category.
The final educational package to be provided to Yardi’s clients will be based on the data and information gathered through a literature review, audit case studies, and a nationwide survey. It will include technical and economic guidance for property managers to reference when considering green building improvements. This project also addresses the need for more case studies that highlight best practices associated with the successful implementation of sustainable upgrades and strategies in existing commercial buildings. We intend to demonstrate not only the environmental benefits associated with these upgrades, but the economic rewards as well, and believe that the application of the SPR Initiative across Yardi Systems’ vast network of clients can have implications on a nationwide scale.