Since 2011, ULI Greenprint has introduced its real estate members to emerging ESG technology and service providers by allowing Greenprint members to nominate providers they have worked with to become “Innovation Partners.” Through this program, providers share their expertise with ULI Greenprint members through webinars, newsletters, and in-person events.
Commercial real estate firms are striving to accelerate their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) progress, often by hiring technology and service providers who offer specialized knowledge that the real estate company doesn’t have in-house. Some providers offer a unique technology—like proptech or a climate risk analytics platform—which solves problems to ESG progress for real estate. Researching these providers can be a time-consuming process that real estate practitioners must balance with competing responsibilities.
Current Innovation Partners include:
- Black Bear Energy is a technology-enabled services business that competitively sources energy projects to client specifications.
- Esusu provides rent reporting, property management analytics, and rental assistance to unlock financial access and stability for renters and property owners.
- Lumen Energy uses software and data science to help building owners uncover the financially optimal “clean energy stack” - solar, batteries, and more - for every building and deploy projects through a marketplace of qualified installers who compete for business.
- Nova Group GBC is an international, multidisciplinary advisory firm providing environmental, engineering and energy services.
- Siemens is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare.
- WoodWorks provides free project support for commercial and multifamily wood buildings, a robust nationwide education program, and a wide range of published resources.
Marta Schantz, co-executive director of the Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate, states, “Real estate leaders are bombarded with cold calls for all sorts of new ESG technologies and services, and often don’t have time or capacity to sift through the pitches. The Innovation Partner program offers a way for real estate leaders to learn from their peers about vetted, proven, innovative firms who can support real estate’s journey to zero.”
To date, 21 Innovation Partners have supported ULI Greenprint members in all aspects of their Environmental, Social, and Governance goals. They have shared their expertise with members and the broader industry through about five educational webinars and in-person panels per year. Importantly, Innovation Partners have also provided complimentary services and tailored offerings to support ULI Greenprint members on their journey to net zero across the years, including:
- Analyses to help ULI Greenprint members capture the social ROI of green building projects (Autocase)
- Mass timber design advice/consultations for new construction projects (WoodWorks)
- Utility program analysis and recommendations of energy efficiency improvements (Waypoint)
- A standby list for renewable asset-backed retail contracts (Transparent Energy)
This year, ULI rolled out an Innovation Partner Alumni Network to maintain channels of communication with former Innovation Partners and connect them to opportunities for thought leadership or sharing with the ULI Greenprint community. The Alumni Network includes firms with expertise in everything from environmental justice to electric vehicle charging to renewable energy. To learn more about the Innovation Partner program, check out the webpage or email [email protected].
