NEW YORK CITY-The Building Owners and Managers AssociationInternational challenged its members and the real estate industryto improve energy efficiency yesterday. The organization presentedits transformation energy plan on the 44th floor of Hearst Tower,the first green office building in New York City history to receivea gold rating.

The plan includes a Seven-Point Challenge for members to reducethe use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources, wasteproduction and work in coordination with building management,ownership, and tenants to achieve the following goals:

• Continue to work towards a goal to decrease energy consumptionby 30% across portfolios by 2012;
• Benchmark energy performance and water usage through EPA'sEnergy Star benchmarking tool;
• Provide education to building managers, building owners andoperators, engineers, and others involved in building operations,to ensure that equipment is properly maintained and utilized;
• Perform an energy audit and/or retro-commissioning of buildingsand implement low-risk, low-cost strategies to improve energyefficiency with high returns;
• Extend equipment life by improving the operations andmaintenance of building systems and ensure equipment is operatingas designed;
• Through leadership, positively impact your community and yourplanet by helping to reduce your industry's role in global warming;and
• Position yourself and the industry as leaders and solutionproviders to owners and tenants seeking environmental andoperational excellence.

Panelists included Kurt Padavano, BOMA International chairmanand CEO, BOMA International incoming chairman, Brenna Walraven,Brian Schwagerl, VP of real estate and facilities planning forHearst Corp., Stuart Brodsky, national program manager ofcommercial properties Energy Star at the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency and Karen Penafiel, VP of advocacy at BOMAInternational.