In a landmark new partnership, CBRE Global Investors (CBRE GI) and BRE will collaborate to implement BREEAM In-Use International 2015 (BIU) across the CBRE GI EMEA portfolio over a five-year period.
This signature project will be the first of its kind, where BRE and CBRE GI as the client will tender together to the BREEAM Assessor network, issuing a joint Request for Proposals (RFP). This new approach allows the huge volume of assessments to be managed more quickly and efficiently via a panel of assessors, all operating with high levels of experience and at scale. The tender process will be open to all BREEAM assessors, ensuring the ultimate level of fairness and transparency to the market.
In driving through this independent, robust and third-party certification, CBRE GI’s commitment to ESG principles is clear, sending a message to the real estate market that there is no time to waste in the improvement needed to the performance of a large proportion of existing buildings. The BREEAM In-Use scheme provides a science-based sustainable certification that allows CBRE GI to measure, manage, track and enhance the operation of all of their asset portfolio. The digital platform will quickly allow CBRE GI to compare the performance of assets across different funds and territories so that asset managers can learn from each other to make improvements.
Aleksandra Njagulj, Head of Global ESG, is driving the initiative at CBRE GI: “Sustainability is a fundamental part of CBRE Global Investors business strategy. We understand the significant impact the built environment has on the global environment and believe that we have a responsibility to incorporate and demonstrate ESG best practices in all of our corporate and investment management activities. The greatest sustainability impact is achieved through responsible portfolio management of standing assets.
For us, the BREEAM In-Use certification is not a tick-box exercise to create statistics for corporate responsibility reporting. Instead, it is a valuable tool we already use to assess, benchmark and drive continual improvement through our assets and property management alike. Expanding the BREEAM In-Use portfolio approach across our entire EMEA portfolio, comprising more than 360 assets, over five years initial programme, marks a market-leading step forward in sustainable asset management.”
James Fisher, Head of Real Assets for BREEAM at BRE, is a keen advocate of the new RFP process. He said: “We have been discussing the idea of a new RFP approach for large portfolio BREEAM projects for some time now and are very proud that CBRE GI will join us on this full implementation. The aim is to keep driving innovation in the delivery of BREEAM as the value case becomes more and more clear.
We need mass action in the CRE market that not only focuses on the super high-performing assets but also in the more mainstream buildings. It is testament to CBRE GIs commitment to build a better world, that we are now able to drive forward on this project with them.”
