Rand recently received an award for Environmental Stewardship from the New York Association of Realty Managers, which has us basking in a warm, green glow. We're glad to see how the real estate industry has embraced the importance of making buildings more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and we're honored that our peers have recognized Rand's role in bringing that approach and expertise to our clients.
Congratulations also to the other two Environmental Stewardship winners: Cora D. Austin of Lindsey Park Housing Corp. and Isabelle B. Silverman, Esq. of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Council gave the city's green movement a big push with the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, new legislation designed to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings. The plan includes four new local laws covering benchmarking, energy audits and retro-commissioning, lighting retrofits and submetering, and a new energy conservation code. We're happy to report that even though owners are now mandated to make their buildings more energy efficiency, many of our clients are realizing it's also smart building management, and they are asking us to help them do it.
Rand administered the installation of a green roof at the Fashion Institute of Technology as part of FIT's plan for energy sustainability.
At Rand we approach every project—not just the so-called "green" ones like green roofs—from an energy and environmental perspective. In our construction documents we specify recycled replacement products and materials low in toxicity more than ever before. And on most renovation projects we aim for at least 50% of the construction debris to be recycled. In addition, keeping buildings watertight and their core systems operating smoothly goes a long way towards energy savings—and providing healthier and safer places to live and work.
Green building technology and construction is still a relatively new field, but it has greatly matured over the past decade. New environmentally friendly products are being developed every day, contractors are becoming more skilled in industry standard green practices, and building owners, managers, and co-op and condo boards are learning how to improve their buildings' operating efficiency and acting on their knowledge.
Winning the Environmental Stewardship award is not an end in itself for Rand. We consider it an acknowledgement that we're on the right track and encouragement to take it to the next level.
Being green is more than winning an award, however. It's integral to who we are as a firm and what we do day in and day out. It's gotten into our blood and our DNA as a firm—from the smallest project to the largest.
We will continue to practice and promote energy efficiency and environmentally sound projects until they are the "new normal." We thank NYARM for the honor and look forward to continuing the mission for our clients and the industry as a whole.
