Welcome to AOBA's Going Green Microsite

This is AOBA's one-stop resource for members seeking information about Going Green.

Working together with BOMA International and NAA, AOBA is committed to serving as an industry leader in promoting energy efficiency and to providing quality educational programs on sustainability topics and issues relevant to members. Review a summary of AOBA's on-going sustainability initiatives.

In this section, you'll find resources on green legislative initiatives and incentives; helpful links and tips focused on energy efficiency, recycling, water conservation and LEED resources; and case studies contributed by AOBA members. You'll also find a page specifically for apartment residents; members are encouraged to provide a link to this page on their site.

What's New?
Congress Halts Ban on Incandescent Light Bulbs The final FY 2012 appropriations bill passed by Congress in December included a provision to roll back controversial light bulb efficiency standards set to take effect January 2012. According to NAA, despite media and other reports to the contrary, the new standards, enacted as part of a 2007 energy law, would not have banned incandescent light bulbs.  They did, however, require bulbs	More Existing Buildings Going for LEED Green retrofitting of commercial buildings is outpacing the construction of new green buildings, according to a latest report issued by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED-certified existing buildings are outpacing their newly built counterparts, according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC), Washington, DC, report. As of December, square footage of LEED-certified existing buildings	2011 Green Building Market and Impact Report Available According to Greenbiz.com, a new report shows that LEED buildings continue to grow but at a slower pace than anticipated. Among the other top-level findings of this in-depth report --- a look at the rapid expansion of Green Building Councils around the globe, how LEED for Homes defies expectations, and a look at how LEED buildings save energy, cut carbon dioxide, reduce commutes, save water,

Current Green Initiatives Include... AOBA's Go Green Community Manager Award recognizes outstanding leadership in promoting environmental stewardship in multi-family residential communities. And a monthly online course helps members obtain their LEED Green Associate credential.

The AOBA Alliance, a subsidiary of AOBA, is now in its 11th year of negotiating procurement contracts for energy generation. The Alliance identifies opportunities for participants to achieve savings in energy purchasing, including the purchase of "green" energy through renewable energy certificates (RECs). The AOBA Energy Managers Roundtable helps executives connect and share best practices. For more info, please email Marie Tibor at mtibor@aoba-metro.org.

Become a BOMA STAR! Please Share Your Benchmarking Data with BOMA International. It's an easy, quick way to support our industry. BOMA STARS is a new initiative to help members promote the importance of benchmarking energy data using the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager and sharing that data with BOMA. All data shared with BOMA International is kept strictly confidential. For more info, visit  http://www.boma.org/getinvolved/BOMASTARS/Pages/default.aspx. To share this important info with your staff, please download a BOMA Stars Flyer.