Sustainability Engagement
Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) – Nareit partners with CEBA to elevate the key opportunities and challenges for the commercial real estate industry in advancing clean energy technology improvements and procurement solutions.
- Unlocking Clean Energy Supply Through Utility Grid Expansion and Improvement
- Clean Energy Access Will Help REITs Decarbonize
First Street – Nareit partners with First Street to enhance the understanding and awareness of the impact of physical climate change on REIT assets and portfolios by providing members access to First Street analysis and research. Nareit members have opportunities to test drive new tools and engage with teams of climate experts developing new resources to support risk analysis and resilience investment planning.
- Using Climate Risk Data to Drive Decision Making
- Property Level Climate Risk Data Increasingly Important for REITs
- First Street Post on Nareit Partnership
Getting to Zero Collaborative – Nareit partners with the Getting to Zero initiative led by New Buildings Institute (NBI) and RMI, which amplifies the work of people and organizations that are accelerating and broadening efforts to decarbonize buildings at scale, helping achieve ambitious climate commitments related to the built environment, and engage the commercial real estate community to overcome the remaining barriers to net zero buildings the norm.
GRESB – Nareit, in partnership with GRESB, supports the REIT industry to standardize reporting and meet investor expectations for sustainability performance. REITs participating in the annual GRESB Real Estate Assessment provide transparency to investors on performance against industry benchmarks. Nareit continues to engage with GRESB to evolve with the industry.
- REITs Earn Top GRESB Scores in 2024, Led by Office Sector
- Study Confirms REIT Sustainability Outperformance
- REITs Continue to Improve GRESB Scores in 2023
- GRESB Shows REITs Continue to Improve Environmental Performance in 2022
U.S. Government Agencies–Nareit supports public-private partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that support the real estate industry’s energy efficiency adoption and operating expense reductions. The ENERGY STAR for Buildings program and Better Buildings Initiative support the REIT industry in measuring and managing energy improvements and sharing best practices for advancing innovation in building energy management.
- CRE Industry Expresses Strong Support for the ENERGY STAR for Buildings Program
- DOE Better Buildings Initiative’s Support for Building Sector Decarbonization
- REITs Continue to Engage in Building Decarbonization Discussion
- REITs Named as EPA 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Nareit and its members partner with USGBC to advance sustainable practices in the design and operations of buildings. Nareit members can access education, resources, and connect with industry experts.
- Nareit and USGBC Collaborate on New Program to Help REITs in Their Sustainability Journeys
- USGBC’s Journey to Support Decarbonization of the Built Environment
- USGBC National Capital Region Hosts Women in Green Event
Social Responsibility Engagement
Nareit and its members collaborate with targeted industry stakeholders on various initiatives and programs that impact the broader commercial real estate community.
Collaborative Real Estate Development & Solutions (CREDS) – CREDS is a forward-thinking initiative committed to advancing innovation, inclusion, and impact across the commercial real estate industry. By fostering cross-sector collaboration, spotlighting scalable solutions, and elevating emerging practices in procurement, technology, and development, CREDS is reshaping how industry leaders think about opportunity, access, and strategic growth. CREDS is based on partnerships with associations, service providers, data innovators, and thought leaders working to drive meaningful progress across the real estate ecosystem.
Dividends Through Diversity Grant Program – The Nareit Foundation creates ways for REITs to engage with programs that expand employment, entrepreneurship, and investment education in commercial real estate. The grant program supports initiatives with national organizations leading workforce development programs, small business capacity-building initiatives, and educational offerings focused on investing.
Read Nareit’s coverage of the grant program and grantee profiles
These partnerships include:
Nareit Hawaii Community Giving Initiative -The Nareit Hawaii Community Giving Initiative of the Nareit Foundation, supported by REITs that invest in Hawaii, is dedicated to forward thinking programs that are creating affordable housing solutions and improving the quality of life for families statewide.
Learn more about the Nareit Hawaii Community Giving Initiative