CHICAGO, IL — A group of leading building owners, investment advisory firms and corporate tenants have become allies in a campaign to make commercial office space more sustainable by breaking down the barriers to green leasing.

Bank of America, Beacon Capital Partners, Deutsche Bank and its real estate investment manage arm RREEF, JPMorgan Chase, Jones Lang LaSalle's investment arm, LaSalle Investment Management, and Whirlpool Corporation are among the first to enlist in the effort.

In doing so, the participants made a commitment to the Green Lease Action Plan and its guiding principles -- and pledge to apply the concepts to properties they own, manage or occupy.

The action plan and its early adopters, who collectively own or occupy more than 350 million square feet of office space, were announced this week. The effort was launched in association with the Greenprint Foundation, an international group of real estate owners, investors and financial institutions committed to reducing carbon emissions.

Buildings account for almost 40 percent of energy use and carbon emissions in the U.S. and many other countries. Making those structures more efficient would greatly reduce energy consumption, emissions and related costs, say green building advocates, who point to existing structures -- commercial buildings in particular -- as the best targets for improvement. In the U.S., for example, there are 74 billion square feet of non-residential space.

Energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by as much as 40 percent in many commercial buildings without negative effects on tenant comfort, according to commercial real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, which is facilitating the Green Lease Action Plan. However, landlords and tenants are often disinclined to invest in the improvements that make the sharp reductions possible.

"The efficient use of energy and other resources in buildings requires joint action from property owners and occupiers, but there are disincentives that often prevent the two sides from investing in the necessary capital improvements," said Michael Jordan, senior vice president of sustainability strategy at Jones Lang LaSalle, in a statement.

Although studies have shown that market values are higher and vacancies and costs are lower in green commercial buildings, landlords often see the upfront investments and long-payback periods for energy and other efficiency projects as outweighing increased market value. Obtaining financing for green upgrades can be challenging. And tenants, though they derive the benefit of lower utility costs and other advantages, have a tough time making a case for improvements to office space for which they have no long-term vested interest.

Next Page: The Green Lease Action Plan Principles