SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 8, 2018 – Nareit today presented its annual Leader in the Light Awards for achievement in sustainability to nine REITs and one individual. Recipients of the awards are judged to have produced superior, measurable results from the implementation of sustainable business practices.
This year’s awards were presented to REITs in eight property sectors: Data Centers; Diversified; Health Care; Industrial; Lodging/Resorts; Office; Residential/Apartments; and Retail/Regional Malls.
Additionally, a Most Innovative award was presented recognizing a company that has developed truly innovative solutions to address sustainability challenges – and a Leadership Personified award was presented recognizing an individual who has created a positive influence for sustainability within his or her organization and the broader REIT community.
The property sector award winners are:
- Data Centers: Digital Realty
- Diversified: Vornado Realty Trust
- Health Care: Ventas, Inc.
- Industrial: Prologis
- Lodging/Resorts: Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
- Office: Kilroy Realty Corporation
- Residential/Apartments: Equity Residential
- Retail/Regional Malls: The Macerich Company
The Most Innovative award was presented to Kilroy Realty Corporation.
The Leadership Personified award was presented to Ben Myers, Director, Sustainability, Boston Properties.
“For well over a decade, Nareit has facilitated an ESG dialogue among listed REITs and real estate operating companies,” said Sheldon Groner, Nareit Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations. “Each and every year, we’re proud to see member companies having embraced this important and diverse topic from the top down, with leading benchmarking results showing more and more REITs and real estate operating companies – large and small, and across all property sectors – demonstrating leadership as it relates to all three E, S and G components. Nareit plans to continue to foster and advance ESG progress among REITs and real estate operating companies in the years to come,” Groner said.
Nareit has been presenting the Leader in the Light awards since 2005. The judging criteria include the results of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Annual Survey. GRESB’s Annual Survey measures the environmental performance of property portfolios around the world, and it is a closely watched benchmark among many of the world’s largest institutional investors.
“We are proud to recognize our members that are leading our industry with their vision, innovation and strategy in addressing issues of environmental, economic, and social responsibility and governance practices,” said Fulya Kocak, Nareit Vice President, ESG Issues.
This year’s Leader in the Light Awards submissions were evaluated by an interdisciplinary panel of judges including:
- Jean Lupinacci, Chief, ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial Branch at U.S. EPA
- Cliff Majersik, Executive Director, IMT
- Dave Pogue, Global Director of Corporate Responsibility, CBRE
- Marla Thalheimer, Senior Manager, RE Tech Advisors
- Maria Vargas, Director, Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge
The Leader in the Light Awards were presented at Nareit’s REITworld: 2018 Annual Conference in San Francisco.