(HOUSTON) – Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency.
Hines will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 2009.
This is the second time Hines has received the Sustained Excellence Award; Hines has also been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year three times since 2001.
Hines has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 1999 and its current ENERGY STAR portfolio consists of 130 buildings, representing approximately 75 million square feet.
In aggregate, this portfolio emits 37 percent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than if it were operating at the national average for energy performance. These buildings annually save $104 million ($1.37 per square foot) in energy costs and reduce GHG emissions equivalent to those generated by 97,000 passenger vehicles.
In 2008, Hines became one of the top developer partners in ENERGY STAR’s “Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR” (DEES) program, which recognizes buildings that are designed to achieve superior results in energy efficiency.
Hines has developed or is currently developing 10 buildings—representing more than five million square feet—that have received this designation.
"EPA is delighted to recognize Hines with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award,” said Kathleen Hogan, director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the EPA.
“Hines’ leadership on energy efficiency has yielded impressive results for their bottom line and our global environment, showing us what can be accomplished through sustained commitment and action.”
“As a mechanical engineer, my father emphasized conscientious energy management practices from the beginning.
ENERGY STAR’s tools help us do that better,” said Hines President & CEO Jeffrey C. Hines.
“ENERGY STAR signals lower expenses for our tenants, higher returns for our investors, and a better environment for everyone.”
The 2009 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and demonstrating what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
Last month Hines unveiled HinesGO®, a green office program designed to enhance the sustainable features and operation of the space the firm occupies—more than 230 offices on four continents.
Designed to complement the LEED® Green Building Rating System and the ENERGY STAR “Bring Your Green to Work” program, HinesGO helps identify and implement no-cost and low-cost alternatives to operating in a standard indoor office environment.
Hines is currently adapting the program for tenant use as a value-add to its leasing and property management services. This offering should be available later this year for the tenants of the 177 properties that Hines manages around the world.
Hines is also a leader in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEEDprogram.
The firm has more than 98 projects, representing approximately 65 million square feet that have been certified, pre-certified or registered under the various LEED programs.
Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm’s historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes more than 1,100 properties representing approximately 457 million square feet (42.5 million square meters) of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments.
With offices in more than 100 cities in 16 countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $25.6 billion, Hines is one of the largest sustainable real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.
To learn more about sustainability at Hines, visit www.hines.com/about/sustainability.