This year, 13 companies in California have committed to the California Best Buildings Challenge, totaling more than six million square feet of collective building space. Inspired by the White House's Better Buildings Challenge that seeks 20 percent energy reductions by 2020, participating companies of the California Best Buildings Challenge commit to pursue 20 percent reductions in energy, water, and waste in their existing commercial buildings in just two years.
"California companies have always been trail blazers," said Dan Geiger, Executive Director, USGBC-NCC. "When President Obama initiated the Better Buildings Challenge, we thought California firms could go further with the California Best Buildings Challenge. In the lead up to Greenbuild coming to its birthplace San Francisco, these firms are stepping up to pursue aggressive environmental goals in a landmark accelerated time frame - and most importantly, to inspire others to do the same."
Bayer, Integral Group, Lockheed Martin, Method, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Webcor Builders, and XL Construction join existing Challenge participants Adobe, Genentech, Google, Prudential Real Estate Investors, SAP, and Zynga.
"Watching the California Best Buildings Challenge gain momentum and grow has been exciting, and cements the idea that green building and efficient business practices go hand-in-hand," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chairman, USGBC. "The Challenge participants are bona fide leaders in the sustainable business movement, and we hope California-based companies and beyond will follow suit."