Leader in the Light Awards

Nareit's annual Leader in the Light^® Award honor Nareit member companies that have demonstrated superior and sustained sustainability practices.

For 20 years, Leader in the Light® has recognized Nareit member REITs that implement and engage stakeholders around environmentally and socially responsible practices that create business value and positively impact communities within their own portfolios and across the REIT industry.

2024 Leader in the Light Awards – Honoring Recipients

Learn more about the 2024 Leader in the Light Awards recipients and their industry-leading strategies that demonstrate the various ways sustainability is being applied across each of the property sectors.

2025 Leader in the Light Awards – New Categories and Timelines

The Leader in the Light Awards have evolved over the years; and in 2025, the awards will recognize various aspects of the REIT industry approach to sustainable real estate practices, performance metrics, and public reporting during the prior year.

Nareit may recognize small-, mid-, and large-cap corporate member REITs demonstrating excellence in each of the following award categories:

Transparency: Recognizes REITs providing comprehensive and decision-useful information on the company's environmental and social risks and opportunities and demonstrating strong corporate governance.

Operations: Recognizes REITs implementing innovative approaches to sustainable design, development, retrofit, and/or property operations, which result in measurable impact on asset environmental and social performance.

Responsibility: Recognizes REITs that have put in place responsible business practices that result in a measurable positive impact on their workforce, tenants, and/or the communities they serve.

Learn more about the 2025 Leader in the Light Awards categories and criteria (PDF).