A Class Above
Reports, certificates – we’ll be getting homework next. Why going green is a real education for responsible developers…
Using our initiative
ProLogis has become the first global property company to issue a sustainability report in accordance with standards set by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). ProLogis’ Sustainability Report 2006, released in 2007, details our economic, social and environmental performance for the year. It will be updated annually and made available as a companion document to the annual report to shareholders.
The report offers a clear portrait of ProLogis’ design, construction and social initiatives and outlines plans to establish “a responsible framework and menu of measures” to raise Best Practice across the industry. Our mission – to be the leading global provider of sustainable distribution facilities – involves setting minimum design standards that meet and exceed requirements from the major global environmental certification groups such as LEED, CASBEE and BREEAM.
Prize giving
A ProLogis distribution centre outside Chicago has been awarded a nationally recognised certificate for its progressive and innovative environmental design.
The facility in Alsip, Illinois, is a build-to-suit project for Anixter International, a leading distributor of wiring, cable and communications products, and – at 457,700 sq ft – is the largest building to have been awarded LEED* certification so far.
Built to last
With the number of sustainable construction options for developers growing almost daily, some voices in the industry question whether the resulting buildings are actually going to be around for long enough to see a strong return.
Ken Hall, ProLogis Managing Director Global Development, told Estates Gazette that, as a developer-owner, ProLogis chooses high-quality construction for every build. “The materials in a green shed are not different. What is different is the quality of the materials, the way they are used and the relationship you have with your supply chain… We specify high and pay the money for it. Those roofs we put on will be there for at least 25 years.”
This philosophy is replicated around the world. ProLogis CEO Jeff Schwartz explained to GlobeSt.com that the ProLogis warehouse is built to last. “What I like about our business is it’s all about productivity and efficiency, no glamour,” he said. “It’s why we have buildings that are 20 or 30 years old still leasing for 90% or 95% of a brand new building. There’s almost no functional obsolescence.”
Lights fantastic
ProLogis is undergoing a massive retro-fit of its lighting systems in the US. Since the beginning of 2006, we have converted more than 5 million sq ft to energy-efficient fluorescent lights. This will cut lighting costs by 60 to 80%.
Finding common ground
ProLogis is one of six large-shed developers to help establish the UK’s first Joint Developers’ Forum. Representatives from the industry met this summer to discuss common standards for the future of sustainable warehouses.
The meeting was hosted by ProLogis’ environmental consultant Battle McCarthy. “All the developers want to achieve a great product,” says director Guy Battle, “but there is no real way [at present] of comparing them.”
Agreements already reached include the size and shape of the baseline example building on which future calculations can be based. Decisions like this are significant not just for environmental reasons, but also for financial ones.
“What is missing is recognition from valuers who will give the building a rental yield,” said ProLogis’ Ken Hall. “A high-performance building should attract a higher value and that should finance the sustainable techniques. We want to make money at this.”
It is hoped that the data sharing and influence of the Joint Developers’ Forum will help inform the Communities and Local Government department, which is working to bring UK Building Regulations in line with the European Energy Performance Directive by April 2008.
Certificates of achievement
A concise guide to building assessment criteria around the world. |
BREEAM
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method covers every type of building and ProLogis UK is seeking Excellent ratings for many new warehouses and associated offices.
Examples: Sideway, Stoke-on-Trent; Sainsbury’s Regional DC at Pineham; AS Watson DC at Dunstable. |
LEED
Managed by the US Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is widely regarded as the US standard for environmentally responsible construction. ProLogis is offering a two-day training programme for designated employees to become LEED-accredited professionals, an increasingly valuable credential in the building industry.
Examples: ProLogis HQ in Denver, Colorado; new build-to-suit warehouses for BMW in Illinois and Pennsylvania; new build for Kraft Foods in Illinois. The Sainsbury’s DC at Pineham, Northampton will also achieve an exceptional LEED Gold Award. |
CASBEE
The Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environment Efficiency was developed to meet the specific demands of Japanese and Asian markets. Its high-assessment ratings are an incentive to designers and developers to create superior buildings.
Examples: ProLogis Parc Maishima II, the first DC in Osaka to get a CASBEE A rating; Centrair building in Tokoname City. |
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