Washington, D.C. – Many of our members are either already developing or supporting green and sustainable development, or soon will be. To that end, NAIOP has adopted a policy that encourages members to utilize green development practices, when possible.

The NAIOP Sustainable Development Policy reads as follows:

The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) values the earth's resources and recognizes the positive impact that sustainable development has on the environment and the properties its members create.

NAIOP believes that the intelligent use of energy, materials and other resources yield environmental benefits, and that the lifecycle of a building - from site development through design, construction, renovation, operations and demolition - should strive to employ every usable, cost-effective, sustainable strategy available.

NAIOP applauds states, municipalities and communities that offer incentives for sustainable building that enable responsible developers to build better buildings and meet the needs of environmentally-conscious owners and occupants, both today and in the future.

NAIOP encourages its members to seek education and certification resources made available by NAIOP or various organizations that provide an understanding of developing and maintaining high-performance properties.

"NAIOP's endorsement of this policy confirms that the association and its members are committed to development practices that result in the creation of sustainable real estate projects designed to preserve and protect our environment," said Alan J. Beaudette, senior vice president of Lowe Enterprises and 2008 NAIOP chairman. "NAIOP and its members understand that developing 'green' or sustainable properties is a not only a responsibility we have to our industry, communities and our tenants, but a practice that makes good business sense."

The policy statement is the outcome of a Green Task Force established in March 2007 to examine sustainable development and recommend how NAIOP should address this important issue within the industry and among its members.

The Task Force comprised 13 NAIOP members from across the nation and varying professions that contribute to the development industry. The group researched and made recommendations in five categories: policy; education; research; strategic alliances; and legislative initiatives.

"The private development community is taking a leading role in greening America's buildings. I commend NAIOP for recognizing the importance of energy-efficient, green buildings as healthy, productive places to work and for encouraging its members to get on board this train to the future," said Jerry Yudelson, PE, MS, MBA, LEED AP. Yudelson has authored four books on green building and is contributing editor of SMPS Marketer, Environmental Design & Construction and senior editor of www.igreenbuild.com.

NAIOP is one of the first associations to sanction a policy statement that calls on the development community to develop environmentally-responsible spaces. To support its members, NAIOP has also launched an online Green REsource (Real Estate Resource) Center that brings together a collection of materials related to sustainable development, including research reports and publications, current legislative issues and upcoming education opportunities, and is available online at www.naiop.org/greenresource.

In March 2008, NAIOP will host its first "green" conference - DevelopGREEN: Sustainable Solutions for Commercial Real Estate - that will take high-performance development practices to the forefront and specifically address how and why the industry must continue to develop green. Commercial real estate leaders on the cutting edge of green will anchor the event.

NAIOP will award its third annual Green Development Award during development '07: the annual meeting for commercial real estate, held October 16-19 in Atlanta. Past winners of the award include Corporate Office Properties Trust and Hines.

Interview opportunities regarding the policy statement are available and may be established by contacting Kathryn Hamilton at (703) 904-7100.