(HOUSTON) – Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency.
Hines’ accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2015.
This is the eleventh time Hines has been recognized by the EPA and the eighth time Hines has received the Sustained Excellence Award.
Hines’ portfolio of ENERGY STAR buildings consists of 198 facilities and more than 83.5 million square feet. With an average performance rating of 84.5, the portfolio is 40.4 percent more energy efficient than the national average.
 This translates into estimated annual greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing 34,502 automobiles from the road for one year.
“My father who founded the firm in 1957 is a mechanical engineer, so we’ve always had a high bar in terms of mechanical systems efficiency and energy savings.” said Hines President and CEO Jeffrey C. Hines. “Hines truly values our partnership with ENERGY STAR. It’s exciting to see the impact we’ve made through our sustainability programs and we remain committed to continuing our work to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment.”
Hines Global Sustainability Officer Gary Holtzer added, “ENERGY STAR is an important part of our global sustainability program.
It helps us maximize performance, minimize risk and preserve long-term value for our investors, partners, clients and tenants.
Each of these efforts contributes to the well-being of the communities in which we operate.”
Since its inception in 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped prevent a total of more than two billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2013 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners provided more than $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change.
“Through their sustained participation with ENERGY STAR, Hines is helping Americans save money, save energy, and do their part to reduce our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “I applaud Hines for earning EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award, the 2015 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award, demonstrating a strong commitment to energy efficiency and to preserving a healthy planet for future generations.”
The 2015 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through superior energy efficiency achievements. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.
Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with locations in 185 cities in 19 countries. Hines has $84.9 billion of assets under management, including $42.7 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $42.2 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. In 2014, Hines completed over $8 billion in transactions on behalf of its investment management clients. The firm has 104 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired more than 1,000 properties, totaling over 339 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 511 properties, representing over 176 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.