Spring 2011

California Sustainability Alliance’s Green Building Video

The California Sustainability Alliance has released "The Competitive Edge: Commercial Green Building in California," a video designed to help viewers understand the characteristics of green buildings and the types of green building measures that are most effective in the state of California.

The video features successful case studies from Adobe Systems and Thomas Properties Group, and is designed to educate a wide audience – including policymakers, governmental agencies, property managers, developers, lenders/investors, architects, engineers, building owners and tenants.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, energy used by commercial and industrial buildings costs more than $200 billion per year and accounts for nearly half of all energy consumption in the U.S. Governor Schwarzenegger issued an Executive Order known as the Green Building Initiative, in 2004. It directed state agencies to lead by example, by reducing energy usage in state facilities 20% by 2015. A recent federal initiative aims to achieve a 20% reduction in commercial energy use by 2020.

The video highlights the green building efforts of Thomas Properties Group, Inc., one of the pioneer real estate companies developing and operating green buildings in California and a 2008 Sustainability Showcase Award winner. Spotlighted properties include City National Plaza Building in Los Angeles and the Joe Serna Jr. Cal/EPA Headquarters Building in Sacramento, which through green building measures, each save close to $1.4 million in annual operating costs.

About The California Sustainability Alliance
The California Sustainability Alliance was designed to help meet the State of California's aggressive energy, climate and resource and environmental goals by increasing and accelerating energy efficiency in combination with complementary green measures and strategies. Founded in 2006, The California Sustainability Alliance is a program managed by Navigant Consulting, administered by Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company), and funded by California utility customers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
The California Sustainability Alliance