Jones Lang LaSalle finished 2011 with 1,075 professionals accredited with LEED and other energy and sustainability designations, exceeding its publicly stated goal to reach 1,000 accredited professionals by the end of 2012.
"Sustainability is now important to every service we provide. Our professionals use their sustainability expertise to advise our clients and to deliver superior operating results, even at properties that are not on a path to certification," said Dan Probst, Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services at Jones Lang LaSalle.
"Sustainability accreditation verifies that we understand the strategies for managing energy, water and other aspects of sustainable development and operations."
The global commercial real estate services firm employed about 650 sustainability accredited professionals in May 2011, when the goal to 'Accredit 1K' was announced internally. It was initially thought that adding 350 accredited staff in eight months would not be feasible.
"We initially planned to reach 1,000 accredited professionals by the end of 2012, but the response from our business leaders and on-site professionals around the world, based on rising client demand, was so strong, we had to move quickly," said Lauralee Martin, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, at Jones Lang LaSalle.
"We increased the classes at our Sustainability University, and our professionals showed real drive in studying for and passing difficult tests while continuing to perform their regular responsibilities."
Jones Lang LaSalle professionals have been instrumental in securing energy and sustainability certifications at more than 200 buildings and commercial interiors around the world. The firm has installed or advised on 1,400 MW of wind and biomass energy projects, and in 2010 saved clients US $128 million in energy costs, avoiding 563,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
The 'Accredit 1K' initiative expanded the reach of Jones Lang LaSalle's sustainability accredited professionals to 29 countries across the firm's three geographic regions:
Asia Pacific Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam
Europe, the Middle East and Africa Croatia, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates
Americas Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States
A majority of accreditations are for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), including LEED Accredited Professionals as well as the new LEED Green Associate designation. Other energy and sustainability professional accreditations held by Jones Lang LaSalle professionals include:
- AIEMA Associate for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (UK/worldwide)
- BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (UK)
- CBCP Certified Building Commissioning Professional (US/worldwide)
- CEM Certified Energy Manager (US/worldwide)
- DCEP Data Center Energy Practitioner (US)
- Green Globes / Go Green Plus (US/Canada)
- GMM Green Mark Manager (Singapore)
- Green Star (Australia)
- NABERS National Australian Built Environment Rating System (Australia)
Source: Jones Lang LaSalle
