Akridge

Logo for Akridge Washington , District of Columbia (D.C.)
Top Performer (2008)

Akridge is a full service, Washington, DC-based commercial real estate firm of 200 team members providing acquisition, construction management, development, leasing, and property management services. The firm has been operating exclusively in the Greater Washington region for almost 35 years with projects totaling more than 11 million square feet of commercial space at a value of more than $2 billion. The companys success is attributed to this mission: Service, Innovation and Results! Company leaders often assert, we are in the service business; not the space business. Because superior service is the goal, Akridge is constantly looking for ways to improve the building Clients environment and work life while decreasing their operating costs and increasing revenue for the property owners.

 

As of mid-year 2008, Akridge has achieved a reduction in energy use of more than 15.3 percent compared to the baseline, in addition to achieving an average ENERGY STAR rating of 77 for our building portfolio an increase of 16 from baseline. Over the past years, Akridge has reduced its overall average source Energy Intensity by 56.3 kBtu/ft2/year, and eliminated emissions of over 8908 tons/year of CO2.  On a cost basis, this represents a savings our Clients. Akridges success in energy efficiency is the result of a commitment by company executives including Chairman, Chip Akridge and President, Matt Klein. Senior Vice President, Kathy Barnes, manages the initiative which includes the establishment of the Akridge Green Team, an internal committee whose mission is to investigate, educate, communicate and activate green ideals and practices throughout the company and all of its operating and development properties, and an Energy Conservation Leader, to serve as the primary contact with the ENERGY STAR program and the go-to person for questions of new energy conservation technologies and the benchmarking process. The Akridge Green Team and the Energy Conservation Leader are tasks with understanding current products and practices and implementing them to further reduce consumption in Akridge properties. Specific energy management efforts include a complete virtual walk-thru of each Akridge building in search of opportunities to optimize systems, change light bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescents, adjust operations times, ensure all equipment and appliances are ENERGY STAR qualified, and bolster thinning insulation to protect against energy escape throughout the building, as revealed by infrared testing. However, the firms efforts do not stop with the physical changes in operations and technologies, but a comprehensive communications program to educate building Clients and encourage changes in occupants habits has also been important in reduced energy consumption.  The Akridge effort to reduce energy consumption is comprehensive and continuous as new products become available and responsible behavior in energy usage requires an ongoing communication effort.