Founded in 2006, The California Sustainability Alliance is amarket transformation program managed by Navigant Consulting,administered by Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), and fundedby California utility customers under the auspices of theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission.

Available at www.sustainca.com, the Green leases Tool Kit wascreated after the CSA brought together representatives from Bank ofAmerica, JP Morgan, CB Richard Ellis, Thomas Properties Group andFireman's Fund Insurance Co. to work alongside GovernorSchwarzenegger's Green Action Team. Their task was to come up witha strategy for promoting the greening of leased office space, whichcan result in operating cost savings, enhanced productivity, ahealthy environment, and increased asset values.

"Office buildings represent a large untapped opportunity forsignificant savings of energy, water and waste," says CraigMcDonald, managing director of Navigant Consulting's sustainabilityservices unit. "In California, about 90 percent of office space isleased, yet only 6% of that space is certified 'green.' Until now,much of the effort to green office space has focused primarily onnew construction."