Los Angeles — CBRE Group, Inc. announced that it has certified more than 300 buildings through the U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Existing Buildings rating system, making the company the commercial real estate services and investment industry leader in LEED for Existing Buildings certifications. CBRE’s Global Energy & Sustainability LEED Programs team has now certified 305 buildings totaling more than 95 million square feet in 30 states. 

The 305 buildings that CBRE has certified with LEED make up approximately 10% of the 3,100 buildings with the LEED for Existing Buildings certification globally. CBRE’s LEED Programs team is led by Gary Thomas, Director, CBRE Global Energy & Sustainability.

“The Green Building Adoption Index recently published by CBRE and Maastricht University demonstrated the growing prominence of environmentally certified assets in major U.S. cities,” said Dave Pogue, CBRE’s Global Director of Corporate Responsibility. “CBRE made a bold commitment seven years ago to gain 100 LEED Existing Building certifications. Reaching 300 is a tribute to Gary, his team, and our many clients who have also made a commitment to achieving improved environmental performance in their assets.”

The positive environmental impacts of the certifications include annual savings of more than 150 million gallons of water and more than 162 million kWh of electricity. At an average rate of $.10 per kWh, this would result in annual energy cost savings of more than $16 million and eliminate more than 112,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. This reduction in emissions equates to removing 23,591 passenger vehicles from the road for one year.

“There are some 5.4 million existing buildings in the U.S. today, and every one of them would benefit from the protocols of continuous building performance improvement that is a hallmark of the LEED for Existing Buildings certification program,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “While some view green buildings as a ‘nice to do,’ CBRE has embedded sustainability values across its far-reaching footprint, and this latest milestone specifically focused on green buildings is a significant example of the kind of leadership CBRE provides the global real estate community.”

The LEED Existing Building certification creates ongoing and verifiable sustainability practices by developing and implementing environmentally preferable building operation and maintenance strategies. CBRE delivers energy and sustainability services around the world, with industry-leading programs and practices in all primary regions that reduce energy costs, improve building performance and drive greater value for clients. For more information, visit www.cbre.com/sustainability.