Residential Firm Gets High Marks for Sustainability

SAN FRANCISCO—Headquartered in the Netherlands, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark Survey is an industry-driven organization committed to assessing the sustainability performance of public, private and direct international real estate portfolios. This year's survey incorporated sustainability data from more than 750 real estate companies and funds worldwide.

The survey once again named Equity Residential as the residential sector leader in in North America, according to Equity Residential's first vice president of investments, John Hyjer. Receiving the same designation for the second consecutive year is the result of Equity Residential having the highest overall score for multifamily properties in North America.

“Equity Residential is committed to serving and enhancing the neighborhoods and cities where we operate. Our industry-leading sustainability programs not only address specific environmental impacts such as water conservation, waste reduction and energy efficiency, but also the lifestyle and social impact within each apartment community and its residents,” says Hyjer. “We are honored to have our work recognized, as we can think of no better way to serve than by continually improving the sustainability of our apartment communities.”

Hyjer went on to note that all of Equity Residential's new developments delivered to the market in the past 24 months, including Vista 99 and Domain in San Jose, and Azure, Potrero 1010 and 340 Fremont in San Francisco, had these enhancements to energy and water conservation designed from the outset and were included in the consideration for the designation. Other existing apartment communities had energy conservation upgrades incorporated and were also included in consideration.

“We are very honored to be recognized as the residential sector leader by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark Survey for two years running, but our sustainability efforts are, in fact, just how we do business,” Hyjer tells GlobeSt.com. “As an industry leader, we have a responsibility to our neighborhoods and to our residents to be mindful of our impact on the communities in which we operate.”

One of the major sustainability initiatives Equity Residential has employed includes the installation of solar PV panels in nine of its apartment communities, resulting in 1.36 megawatts of power and an 80% reduction in electric use. Some of the newer installations are at Artistry in Emeryville, South City Station in South San Francisco and Park Place in San Mateo, to name a few.

Equity Residential has also continued its conversion to energy-efficient lighting in all areas of the apartment communities, from parking structures to common areas to the individual apartments. The latest iterations of LED lighting not only saves energy and reduces emissions, they also last longer than either fluorescent or incandescent.

The smart irrigation systems utilizing innovative systems that incorporate weather data and the type of plantings to determine the optimum watering schedule installed in the majority of Equity Residential's communities in Northern California, have resulted in a marked 29% reduction in water use for landscaping. Residents still enjoy an eco-friendly landscaped community, while heeding sustainability requirements in the region's drought-stricken environment.

Another important element in Equity Residential's ongoing sustainability practices is incorporating eco-friendly products in the renovation and upgrading of its apartment communities. This category of products have been installed in nearly 24,000 apartments and include everything from Energy Star kitchen appliances, low VOC paint, WaterSense faucets and shower heads, to programmable thermostats and energy-efficient lighting. 

SAN FRANCISCO—Headquartered in the Netherlands, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark Survey is an industry-driven organization committed to assessing the sustainability performance of public, private and direct international real estate portfolios. This year's survey incorporated sustainability data from more than 750 real estate companies and funds worldwide.

The survey once again named Equity Residential as the residential sector leader in in North America, according to Equity Residential's first vice president of investments, John Hyjer. Receiving the same designation for the second consecutive year is the result of Equity Residential having the highest overall score for multifamily properties in North America.

“Equity Residential is committed to serving and enhancing the neighborhoods and cities where we operate. Our industry-leading sustainability programs not only address specific environmental impacts such as water conservation, waste reduction and energy efficiency, but also the lifestyle and social impact within each apartment community and its residents,” says Hyjer. “We are honored to have our work recognized, as we can think of no better way to serve than by continually improving the sustainability of our apartment communities.”

Hyjer went on to note that all of Equity Residential's new developments delivered to the market in the past 24 months, including Vista 99 and Domain in San Jose, and Azure, Potrero 1010 and 340 Fremont in San Francisco, had these enhancements to energy and water conservation designed from the outset and were included in the consideration for the designation. Other existing apartment communities had energy conservation upgrades incorporated and were also included in consideration.

“We are very honored to be recognized as the residential sector leader by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark Survey for two years running, but our sustainability efforts are, in fact, just how we do business,” Hyjer tells GlobeSt.com. “As an industry leader, we have a responsibility to our neighborhoods and to our residents to be mindful of our impact on the communities in which we operate.”

One of the major sustainability initiatives Equity Residential has employed includes the installation of solar PV panels in nine of its apartment communities, resulting in 1.36 megawatts of power and an 80% reduction in electric use. Some of the newer installations are at Artistry in Emeryville, South City Station in South San Francisco and Park Place in San Mateo, to name a few.

Equity Residential has also continued its conversion to energy-efficient lighting in all areas of the apartment communities, from parking structures to common areas to the individual apartments. The latest iterations of LED lighting not only saves energy and reduces emissions, they also last longer than either fluorescent or incandescent.

The smart irrigation systems utilizing innovative systems that incorporate weather data and the type of plantings to determine the optimum watering schedule installed in the majority of Equity Residential's communities in Northern California, have resulted in a marked 29% reduction in water use for landscaping. Residents still enjoy an eco-friendly landscaped community, while heeding sustainability requirements in the region's drought-stricken environment.

Another important element in Equity Residential's ongoing sustainability practices is incorporating eco-friendly products in the renovation and upgrading of its apartment communities. This category of products have been installed in nearly 24,000 apartments and include everything from Energy Star kitchen appliances, low VOC paint, WaterSense faucets and shower heads, to programmable thermostats and energy-efficient lighting.