Latest news with #PeterTempleton
Trade Arabia
28-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
US Green Building Council launches new LEED rating system
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched LEED v5, the latest version of its flagship LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building programme. LEED v5 builds on the 25-year legacy and global impact of LEED, updating and strengthening the most widely recognised, influential sustainability standard for the building industry while providing user-friendly tools for building owners and teams to pursue certification through enhanced technology updates, a statement said. "Since its public launch 25 years ago, LEED has profoundly impacted millions of people in cities and communities around the world,' said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of USGBC. 'LEED v5 raises the bar, further defining and evolving best practices and giving stakeholders across the building industry clear pathways to address today's challenges to our health, climate, and communities.' Meeting today's challenges The newest version of the LEED standard was developed with input from thousands of green building professionals to respond to today's most pressing challenges and the significant opportunities at the intersection of sustainability and buildings. LEED v5 focuses on impact areas that touch decarbonization, human and ecological health and resilience. The new version further defines what it means to be a high-performance building today, creating even greater investment potential. Decarbonisation accounts for half of all points for LEED v5 certification to confront current climate needs. The new rating system provides clear, actionable steps to deliver ultra-low-carbon buildings by targeting emissions reductions across all aspects of the building lifecycle, including operations, embodied carbon, refrigerants, and transportation. All LEED v5 projects will complete an operational carbon projection and will be given tools to craft a comprehensive, long-term decarbonisation strategy, creating pathways for sustainable transformation. Quality of life credits focus on human-centric strategies that address the health and well-being of occupants and the communities in which buildings are located. Global demand for healthier and greener spaces has grown in recent years, with occupants increasingly demanding more transparency and accountability around sustainability and health in the built environment. Resilience is another major theme across the rating system, addressing both human and natural systems to strengthen communities. All LEED v5 projects will complete climate resilience assessments to enhance awareness of hazards, increase transparency of risks, reduce vulnerabilities and ensure long-term safety and sustainability. These assessments equip projects to conserve and restore ecosystems, mitigate risks, and minimize business disruptions while protecting asset value—contributing to economic prosperity and safety across communities. Once projects conduct their assessments, LEED v5 offers a variety of strategies that can be incorporated at every stage of the building lifecycle to reduce risk and enhance resilience. 'Investors, owners, occupants, and policymakers are asking for high-performing buildings that reduce emissions, mitigate climate risk, provide healthy, productive spaces, positively impact communities, and protect natural systems,' said Sarah Zaleski, chief products officer of USGBC. 'LEED v5 provides the best practices and accountability to drive performance across all these dimensions, delivering tangible benefits to building owners and their stakeholders.' A sound investment LEED-certified assets are proven to drive return on investment and greater future earning potential. Notably, LEED buildings achieve a 21.4% higher average market sales price per square foot over non-LEED buildings; average 11% higher rent rates; attract more favorable and stable financing options; and reduce water, energy and waste by more than 20%. These environments also result in healthier and more productive employees and occupants. "For more than two decades, LEED has played a critical role in transforming the real estate sector at a global scale by bridging the gap between sustainability and commercial value,' Anica Landreneau, senior principal and director of sustainability, HOK. 'It has empowered organizations to develop high-performance buildings that significantly reduce environmental impacts and provide healthier, more resilient spaces for occupants, while also supporting the achievement of business goals." A sustainability story for every project LEED is the most widely used and globally recognised leadership certification that helps building owners clearly articulate their sustainability commitment and achievement, which is verified through rigorous third-party certification. All projects certified under LEED v5 will receive impact reports to communicate their strategies and performance to internal and external stakeholders. In addition, the new project priorities category allows customization of LEED to meet the unique opportunities across all global regions and market sectors. LEED provides the necessary transparency and integrity for a project's certification, ensuring project teams deliver on design plans and goals. The standard drives additional accountability tied to project-specific goals and gives building owners the proof points to successfully meet goals and proudly articulate those outcomes. 'LEED v5 represents a bold step forward in transforming the built environment,' said Grace Kwok, chief sustainability strategist, AEC Capital Limited. 'It emphasises climate resilience, recognizing the need to adapt our built environment to a changing climate. We have the privilege to complete the first LEED v5 project in Asia, with ICC (International Commerce Centre) setting a new benchmark and leading the charge for innovation and excellence in green buildings.' LEED v5 was developed with the help and support of USGBC's vast global ecosystem of knowledgeable members and volunteers. In 2024, USGBC held two public comment periods, receiving more than 7,000 comments from LEED users worldwide that informed the final version of the rating system. USGBC members ratified the new version earlier this year, providing a final endorsement of the new rating system.
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
In Philadelphia, a Former Navy Yard Wins on Sustainability
From an elevated section of Interstate 95 in South Philadelphia, drivers can look down on several mothballed war ships moored at the edge of the Delaware River. They recall a time when Philadelphia's Navy Yard hummed with naval shipbuilding and repair, but for the last quarter-century the area has been a growing campus for businesses ranging from cake making and clothing manufacture to molecular diagnostics and gene therapy. Now, it's evolving further to become a pioneer for sustainable development with energy-efficient buildings, innovative storm-water management, construction that's designed to withstand future sea-level rise and green spaces that provide an inviting environment for the campus's approximately 15,000 employees. The Navy Yard's sustainability transformation began with its previous developer, Liberty Property Trust, and is being continued by Liberty's successors, Ensemble Investments, LLC and Mosaic Development Partners JV. They have been jointly developing the site in partnership with Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., a public-private economic development agency, since winning the development rights in 2020. Those efforts have just been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council which gave a portion of the Navy Yard a gold certification in its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program for Neighborhood Development, known as LEED-ND. The certification, which covers 39 existing and 38 planned buildings over 295 of the site's 1,200 acres, makes the project the biggest of its kind in the United States and the first in Philadelphia. The new certification also follows earlier LEED awards to individual buildings at the site, according to Peter Templeton, chief executive at the council. To qualify for LEED-ND, properties must meet Green Building Council standards for building construction and operation and provide evidence that energy, water and materials are being used more efficiently than in conventional building. The council also credits projects that use previously developed sites and avoid urban sprawl by being located near existing town centers. In addition, the awards are given to compact, walkable, mixed-use communities that have good access to public transit. The Navy Yard developers have created energy-efficient buildings in a village-like setting that's designed to help tenants attract and retain workers. The approach has been a success: There are no vacancies across the campus, which has 150 companies occupying 7.5 million square feet of office, manufacturing and laboratory space. Since 2000, when the City of Philadelphia purchased the land and began transitioning the Navy Yard from its use as a military base, its tenants have only been commercial. But starting this fall, the development will have its first residential component. A complex of 614 rental apartments is under construction and will include two- and three-bedroom units starting at about $2,000 a month, as well as affordable units starting at about $1,100 a month for a studio. Eventually, Ensemble and Mosaic intend to build 4,000 residential units at the site. The developers expect the new apartments will draw people who work at the Navy Yard but also those who work elsewhere and are attracted to a community that combines the density and amenities of city living with the space and cleanliness of a suburban environment. To support the new residents, they plan to dedicate 40,000 square feet to ground-floor retail space, and 75,000 square feet of space to amenities such as a gym, a pet spa and a golf simulator. Scott Kelly, founder of Re:Vision, a sustainability consulting practice that helped the project earn its LEED-ND designation, predicts the site will become a template for other projects around the United States. 'What's happening here in the Philadelphia Navy Yard really is a game changer, showing others what good development should look like,' he said. These interviews have been edited for clarity. How did the developers use LEED principles? Liberty wanted to incorporate LEED into what we were doing from a development standpoint. We realized we could use it as a framework to create better buildings that were more energy efficient and that were focused on the occupant experience, including air quality in the building, access to natural light and thermal comfort. How do office workers respond to a sustainable office environment? In today's world, to get people to leave their homes and come to work, you need to create an environment that people react really well to. People take less vacation, they work in the buildings longer, they enjoy being in the office. What will attract the first residents to the Navy Yard? I think we are going to draw people from every neighborhood in the city because of the uniqueness of the urban-suburban feel. The city struggles a lot with cleanliness, but we don't deal with that here because this is an offshoot of the city. Do the sustainable building practices at the Navy Yard meet environmental goals? Having uplifting and positive examples like this shows people what's possible. If you care about the environment, and you look at what's happening in Washington D.C., you probably think, 'I'm watching the unraveling of 50 years of the modern environment movement right before my eyes.' Projects like this give a sense of hope and optimism that we can still as a society roll up our sleeves and accomplish good things.
Zawya
07-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Emirates NBD Group secures record 25 LEED Platinum certifications
Ranked #1 global bank for number of LEED Platinum Branches - new achievement reinforces Emirates NBD's global leadership in LEED Emirates NBD Group recognised as the top organisation across both commercial and retail sectors in the Middle East for LEED Platinum ID+C 2025 is the 25th Anniversary of LEED - President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Inc. visits Dubai, UAE to celebrate Emirates NBD's significant milestone Dubai, UAE: Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, further solidifies its global leadership in sustainable building practices by securing 25 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certifications in March 2025, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of LEED. This remarkable achievement positions Emirates NBD as the top organisation across both the commercial and retail sectors in the Middle East, with the most Platinum projects certified under the LEED for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), underscoring the bank's unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and pioneering of green building, and aligns with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Strategy. To mark this significant milestone, Emirates NBD hosted an 'Advancing Green Building Leadership Together' event, with special guest Peter Templeton, President and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Co-hosted by Eman Abdulrazzaq, Group Chief Operating Officer, Emirates NBD and Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG, Emirates NBD, the event brought together leaders from government, real estate, and sustainability organisations, providing a platform for insightful discussion on the future of sustainable and environmentally conscious buildings, both globally and within the UAE. Eman Abdulrazzaq, Group Chief Operating Officer, Emirates NBD, said: "At Emirates NBD, sustainability is a cornerstone of our operations and strategy. In 2020, Emirates NBD was the first bank in the region to receive LEED Certification and we have since persevered to be the industry pioneer in green buildings. This month we have achieved 25 LEED Platinum certifications reaffirming our commitment to environmental leadership and positioning Emirates NBD as the top organisation for LEED Platinum ID+C in the Middle East and the #1 global bank for LEED Platinum Branches. This milestone reflects our alignment with the UAE's vision for a greener, more sustainable future." Peter Templeton, President and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), said: "The 25th anniversary of LEED marks a pivotal moment in the global green building movement as USGBC finalises the latest version of LEED - v5 - and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Emirates NBD, an industry and sustainability leader. Their multiple LEED Platinum certifications demonstrate their commitment to corporate leadership, environmental responsibility, healthy workplaces and thriving communities.' The LEED framework, developed by USGBC, is the most widely-used green building rating system, recognised for implementing sustainable strategies including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, transportation and human experience. It provides a framework for healthy, highly-efficient and cost-saving sustainable buildings and has gained global recognition for its comprehensive approach to evaluating and certifying sustainable building practices. Emirates NBD Group was the Principal Banking Partner for the 28th Edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai, UAE in 2023 and is a key contributor to the UAE's Sustainability Agenda. The Group is a signatory to the UAE Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge initiated by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in support of the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Initiative. -Ends- About Emirates NBD Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st December 2024, total assets were AED 997 billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 271 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 848 branches and 4,601 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 3.87 billion. Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water. For further information on Emirates NBD, please contact: Ibrahim Sowaidan Senior Vice President Head - Group Corporate Affairs Emirates NBD e-mail: ibrahims@ Burson Dubai, UAE Email: emiratesnbd@
Khaleej Times
19-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE green building push gains momentum with new sustainability standards
The UAE is strengthening its position as a global leader in sustainable real estate, with progressive policies accelerating the adoption of green building practices, an industry expert has said. "The UAE has set an exceptional example, with progressive policies supporting green buildings," said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI). "The country's 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 Net Zero commitments provide a clear framework for developers," he added. However, he noted that achieving Net Zero would require a shift beyond individual building certifications to broader, community-driven initiatives. With over 2,500 LEED professionals, the UAE has the expertise to drive large-scale sustainable transformation. Rapid urbanisation across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region has made sustainability a priority for real estate development. Founded in 1993, the USGBC is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable building design and operations. It developed LEED, the world's most widely used green building certification system, which sets stringent standards for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. In 2024, the UAE ranked fifth globally for LEED-certified projects outside the US, with more than 130 developments covering three million square metres. The latest version, LEED v5, introduces stricter accountability measures, requiring developers to assess greenhouse gas emissions, climate risks and human health impacts. "For over 25 years, LEED-certified buildings have led the way in reducing inefficiencies, waste and emissions," Templeton said. "LEED v5 provides a structured pathway towards ultra-low carbon buildings, addressing not just operational emissions but also embodied carbon in materials." The framework enhances decarbonisation efforts, ecosystem restoration and resilience strategies while ensuring long-term asset value. "It's a game-changer for developers seeking to align with ESG goals while maintaining commercial viability," he added. While government policies have played a key role in driving green building adoption in the UAE, Templeton emphasised the need for greater private sector involvement. "Globally, private investment has been a major force in sustainable construction, yet in the UAE, the public sector has taken the lead," he said. "The challenge now is ensuring developers and investors fully integrate sustainability into their business strategies." A key concern remains cost. "Sustainable buildings can be delivered at or below traditional costs while offering long-term financial benefits," Templeton explained. "The industry must rethink how efficiencies are incorporated into project budgets." Beyond individual projects, USGBC recently launched PERFORM, a programme designed to track and enhance sustainability across entire real estate portfolios. Unlike traditional certification models, PERFORM provides continuous assessment and goal setting. "It bridges the gap between corporate sustainability targets and real-world results," Templeton said. "With rising ESG demands, organisations in the region now have a way to measure and improve sustainability at scale." The financial sector is also playing a key role in accelerating the transition through green bonds and sustainability-linked loans (SLLs), which incentivise LEED-certified projects. In 2023, Mena issued $24 billion in green and sustainability-linked bonds - a 155 per cent increase from 2022, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the market. "As sustainable finance grows, developers are leveraging these tools to integrate high-performance sustainability measures," Templeton said. "Banks are offering incentives such as interest rate reductions and higher loan proceeds for LEED-certified developments," he added.
Globe and Mail
17-03-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
IPG Facilities Achieve True Silver Certification for Zero Waste Efforts
SARASOTA, Fla., March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPG ( a global provider of packaging and protective solutions, today announced that its facilities in Carrollton, Texas, Everetts, North Carolina, and Tremonton, Utah, have been awarded Silver certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve, and recognize zero waste performance. This achievement underscores IPG's commitment to sustainable practices and its journey toward becoming a zero-waste company. The TRUE certification recognizes these plants' dedication to best practices in recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. The Tremonton facility has achieved a 90% diversion rate by recycling materials such as plastics and cardboard. Everetts has reached a 94% diversion rate through right-sizing collection containers, conducting annual waste audits, and engaging employees in zero waste activities. Carrollton obtained an impressive 98% diversion rate by recycling plastics, pallets, and cores. "We are extremely proud of the TRUE certifications obtained by our Carrollton, Everetts, and Tremonton facilities," said Jay Bolus, VP of Sustainability at IPG. "This marks an important milestone on our journey to become a zero waste company and is further proof of IPG's commitment to sustainable products and processes.' "Waste affects every part of our communities, and effective waste management strategies are critical to ensuring both public and environmental health," stated Peter Templeton, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. "By pursuing TRUE certification, IPG demonstrates a commitment to sustainability leadership by shifting to circular thinking and prioritizing processes, operations, and actions to reduce waste and resources throughout their system lifecycle. We're excited to see IPG commit to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations through waste reduction and elimination efforts." TRUE certification provides a framework for businesses to implement and track zero waste strategies. It encourages the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health, and economic outcomes. IPG's achievement demonstrates its leadership in sustainable packaging solutions and its dedication to minimizing its environmental impact. About IPG Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, IPG is a global provider of packaging and protective solutions across a diversified set of geographies and end-markets. The Company develops, manufactures, and sells a variety of solutions, including paper and film-based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, stretch and shrink films, protective packaging, woven and non-woven products, and packaging machinery. For information about IPG, visit About Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) GBCI is the world's leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, independently recognizing excellence in performance and practice globally while promoting adoption of building and business practices that continually and measurably improve health, equity, resilience, and environmental wellbeing for all. GBCI administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates including, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems, as well as the PEER standard for power systems, the WELL Building Standard, the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES), EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), TRUE certification for zero waste and Investor Confidence Project (ICP) for energy efficiency retrofits. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Bolus, VP of Sustainability jbolus@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at ______________________ Note to Editor: High-resolution images of the facilities and the TRUE Silver certification logo are available upon request. Please refer to the GBCI PR Guidelines ( and for proper usage. We are targeting industry publications focused on packaging, sustainability, manufacturing, and the specific regions where the facilities are located. A list of targeted media outlets will be provided separately.
