The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced earlier this month the formation of the Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance (“CREEA”), a partnership of commercial real estate owners and operators that have volunteered to work with DOE to dramatically reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the commercial real estate sector. According to a recent DOE press release, commercial buildings currently account for 18% of the nation’s energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. CREEA will link commercial building owners and operators with DOE’s research and technologies and will act as national forum to share best practices and practical experiences in energy efficiency. CREEA steering committee members include executives from a number of industry leaders, including CB Richard Ellis, Cushman & Wakefield Inc., Grubb & Ellis Company, Jones Lang LaSalle, Transwestern, and USAA Real Estate Company, Hilton Hotels Corporation, MGM Mirage, The Walt Disney Company, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, as well as representatives from industry organizations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, and Building Owners and Managers Association, among others.
CREEA is the second energy alliance launched by DOE in the commercial buildings sector. The Retailer Energy Alliance, launched in 2008, provides similar resources and services for retail businesses, including Walmart, Target, and Macy’s. Both alliances are part of DOE’s Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative, which aims to achieve market-ready, net-zero-energy commercial buildings by 2025. See the DOE press release and the CREEA Web page on DOE’s Building Technologies Program website.
