JLL Energy Aces Hit 1,000 Mark; 68 in NE

BOSTON—In terms of amassing sustainable credentials, Jones Lang LaSalle is ahead of its game—way ahead. Ambitiously setting a year-end 2012 goal of having 1,000 JLL professionals recognized by the US Green Building Council or holding similarly respected designations, the global real estate services firm topped the target in 2011, finishing at 1,075, officials for the global real estate services firm reported this week. Adding 16 to the homegrown roster in 2011, 68 JLL professionals so accredited are in New England, 61 in Massachusetts.

“Sustainability accreditation verifies that we understand the strategies for managing energy, water and other aspects of sustainable development and operations,” says JLL Chairman of Energy and Sustainable Services Dan Probst in estimating that the firm had about 650 trained environmental professionals last May when the goal to ‘Accredit 1K” was launched. The thought of accreting accreditations by another 350 was deemed “not feasible” when the program was launched, recounts Probst, but the response from business leaders and on-site professionals that accelerated the figure is indicative of how quickly the expertise has grown from a client demand perspective, explains JLL Chief Operating and Financial Officer Lauralee Martin. As a result, “we had to move quickly,” she says, increasing classes available through JLL’s “Sustainable University,” Martin outlines in the press release. “Our professionals showed real drive in studying for and passing difficult tests while continuing to perform their regular responsibilities,” she says, enabling JLL to ramp up a program that has already helped 200 buildings and related projects secure energy and sustainability certifications globally. That resulted in $128 million in energy cost savings in 2010, JLL estimates, avoiding the use of 563,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Accredit 1K program will help JLL expand its capacity on New England’s sustainability frontier through the 16 new accreditations. The newly minted members are: Rob Albert, Lawrence Castaldo, Dean Donati, Dan Farrell, Chelsey Fitch, Laura Fraioli, Steve Jobin, Jim Kolb, Neil Lespasio, Jennifer Mauren, Ryan McLaughlin, Linda Murray, Charleen Taylor, John Thomas Sara Wartella and Kevin White.