Nareit's ESG JumpStart has several goals. The initiative aims to:
- Simplify the ESG planning, implementation, and reporting in real estate industry by providing how-to guides, videos, templates and case studies.
- Facilitate mentorship from experienced REIT sustainability leaders
- Reduce time, effort and resources for real estate organizations starting sustainability from scratch or looking for improvements to existing sustainability programs.
Each year, Nareit hosts its ESG JumpStart to provide practical, hands-on instruction about how to develop and optimize a successful and resilient ESG program for a REIT or commercial real estate company.
Sign up to receive notification when 2023 JumpStart registration opens.
Learn more about the 2023 workshop.
REIT sustainability leaders speak about various aspects of starting and implementing a successful sustainability program in real estate industry. These videos are a part of Nareit’s JumpStart ESG education initiative. What sets apart these videos is the practical, real life examples and tips that were already implemented and proven effective by successful sustainability programs.
Ari Frankel of Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE: ARE) discusses the importance and the benefits of deveoping a health & wellness program.
Mark Delisi of Avalon Bay (NYSE: AVB) discusses the importance and value of ESG reporting.
Dan Egan of Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO) discusses tenant engagement programs and importance of communicating with tenants about ESG practices.
Daniele Horton of Parkway Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PKY) describes top five action items of a strong emergency plan for a resilient portfolio.
Jeff Bedell, vice president for sustainability at retail REIT Macerich (NYSE: MAC), discusses some of the factors companies should consider when initiating onsite and renewable energy generation. Bedell stresses the need to look at broad goals and objectives. Companies also need to assess the infrastructure requirements and optimal economic structure for any renewable energy program, Bedell explains.
Aaron Binkley, director of sustainability programs at data center REIT Digital Realty Trust (NYSE: DLR), offers insights for companies considering issuing green bonds, including what a green bond can cover and the advantages they offer to issuers.
Chris Brown, sustainability manager at Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), explains the importance of collecting sustainability data. Data feeds all the way through a company’s sustainability program and Brown urges companies to collect as much data as possible.
Kevin Hagen, director of corporate responsibility at Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM), emphasizes the benefits that accrue from taking a more professional, organized and disciplined approach to environmental and social governance (ESG) issues. He also offers advice for companies seeking to move beyond the initial stages of ESG success.
Daniele Horton, founder and principal of Verdani Partners and head of sustainability at Parkway, Inc. (NYSE: PKY), outlines the 10 steps that companies with large real estate holdings can take to improve the sustainability performance of their portfolios.
Sara Neff, senior vice president for sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corp. (NYSE: KRC), looks at methods to define the scope of a new sustainability program, how to pick initial projects, what to include in your first sustainability report, and how to know when sustainability has taken hold at your company.
Jill Ziegler, director of sustainability and corporate responsibility at Forest City Realty Trust, Inc., (NYSE: FCEA and FCEB), highlights the social aspect of ESG, which is gaining increased attention from investors. She notes that diversity and inclusion is a core value at Forest City and discusses diversity and inclusion programs that can be replicated by other companies.