Chicago, IL Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) has received the 2019 Energy Star Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award for energy efficiency programs that feature Energy Star tools and resources. The highest honor among Energy Star Awards is the Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award. Awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sustained Excellence Award is presented to organizations that have already received Energy Star Partner of the Year recognition for a minimum of two consecutive years, which IREM achieved last year. 

IREM’s accomplishments was recognized by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 11. 

To earn the 2019 award, IREM advanced the following initiatives:

• Created a new training certificate program. This pilot training initiative targets property managers in utility energy efficiency programs with IREM education to facilitate better building energy efficiency outcomes, as measured in Energy Star Portfolio Manager. Portfolio Manager is an online tool that measures and tracks energy and water consumption, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

• Developed new medical office and senior housing requirements for the IREM Certified Sustainable Property (CSP) certification program. CSP certification integrates Energy Star tools and resources and recognizes properties for resource efficiency. The unique nature of medical office buildings and senior housing communities required this enhancement to the program.

• Concluded research on the effect of green certifications on the financial performance of multifamily communities. This IREM-sponsored research concluded that certifications like Energy Star can positively impact the financial performance of these properties.

• Expanded the IREM Energy Efficiency Survey to gain insight on energy management in the class B/C office sector. IREM sought insights into energy management practices and perceptions among managers of class B/C real estate portfolios. Survey results can further the EPA’s efforts to expand use of Energy Star tools and resources in that sector.

“Whenever someone asks me, ‘What is one of the first steps in establishing an energy management program?’ I always say benchmarking with Energy Star portfolio manager,” said Angela Aeschliman, CPM and IREM sustainability advisory board chair. “Energy Star tools and resources are foundational to efficiency in operations and vitally important to the real estate management industry.”

“IREM believes that energy efficiency through Energy Star is quality real estate management,” said Denise LeDuc-Froemming, IREM CEO and executive vice president. “We strongly encourage use of Energy Star tools and resources to manage expenses and resource consumption at investment real estate properties, and the Energy Star awards help us get that message across to our members and the industry.” 

For a complete list of 2019 winners and more information about Energy Star’s awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners.