Grubb & Ellis is one of eight leading companies and one major university in Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that it is one of eight major U.S. corporations, and the only commercial real estate services provider, selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to participate in the pilot program for the Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership.  The Partnership is designed to drive continuous improvements in building efficiency through an international network of government agencies, national-level certification programs and other public/private sector organizations.  

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, along with his counterparts and colleagues from Japan, India, Canada and the European Commission, announced the program today at the Clean Energy Ministerial, a gathering of ministers from 24 governments, in Washington, D.C.  Jack Van Berkel, Grubb & Ellis' chief operating officer and president, Real Estate Services, also with David Susoreny, president, Corporate Services, Greg Cichy, senior vice president, Operations, and Michael Groppi, senior vice president, Energy, Sustainability and Technology Solutions, attended the event.

"The fact that the Department of Energy has invited Grubb & Ellis to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative underscores our leadership in energy efficiency and our commitment to sustainability," said Thomas P. D'Arcy, Grubb & Ellis' president and chief executive officer.  "We're honored to take part in this important program and look forward to the measurable effects it will have on lessening the impact of commercial properties on the environment.  Additionally, we believe our participation in this program will bring our clients long-term energy cost reductions and higher asset values."

In addition to Grubb & Ellis, pilot program participants include leading companies, 3M, Cleveland Clinic, The Dow Chemical Company, Marriott International, Nissan, Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and one university, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  The goal of the program is to cut energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, save money and create jobs through an internationally recognized certification program driving the development of policies, procedures and training programs to enhance the energy performance of commercial buildings and industrial facilities, which together account for nearly 60 percent of global energy use.  

As a participant in the pilot program, Grubb & Ellis will be responsible for implementing an energy management system in selected buildings it manages, establishing baseline and target performance levels and measuring and verifying energy use, which will help refine the initiative in advance of large-scale deployment over the coming years. 

Grubb & Ellis is represented in the Department of Energy's Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance by Groppi, who co-chairs the organization's Existing Building subcommittee, and Robert Sprinker, vice president, who serves as chairman of the HVAC subcommittee.  The organization strives to promote technology that will reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the commercial real estate market.

About Grubb & Ellis' Commitment to Sustainability

Through the company's Greening Our Offices program, Grubb & Ellis uses a creative, structured approach to encourage its local offices to adopt sustainable business practices to advance knowledge-sharing and build awareness among all employees. The goal of the program is for sustainability to become second nature and core to the company's operations. In addition, Grubb & Ellis participates in the Carbon Disclosure Project, annually measuring and seeking to reduce its carbon footprint by teaming with many of its vendors to facilitate the adoption of environmentally friendly products and services in support of its workforce.

For clients, Grubb & Ellis advances green real estate practices through its Sustainability Group, which provides long-term operational solutions and cost savings for environmental challenges through various services, including transaction guidance, property and facility management, construction and project management and portfolio planning and management. The company's proprietary Roadmap to Sustainability tool incorporates participation in the EPA's Energy Star program, as well as low to no cost solutions and LEED certification guidelines to benchmark the performance of properties Grubb & Ellis manages for its clients. This in turn drives greater operational efficiency, lower costs and a reduced environmental impact.

About Grubb & Ellis Company

Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,000 professionals in more than 100 company-owned and affiliate offices draw from a unique platform of real estate services, practice groups and investment products to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to real estate owners, tenants and investors. The firm's transaction, management, consulting and investment services are supported by highly regarded proprietary market research and extensive local expertise. Through its investment subsidiaries, the company is a leading sponsor of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), mutual funds and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

SOURCE Grubb & Ellis Company

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