June 17, 2009, San Diego, CA – Real estate development and construction is grinding to a halt.  A growing number of companies are shifting their building facilities and portfolio focus to sustainable retrofits as the most viable cost saving and revenue enhancing option.  To identify tactical ways to capitalize on this evolving market, industry executives must implement a new real estate strategy surrounding sustainability that clarifies how to assess and value the residential and commercial buildings sectors. 

Today there are 120 million residential homes and 5.1 million commercial buildings across America, every one of which presents an opportunity for green building market participants.  However, timing is important for companies seeking to use green retrofits as a point of competitive differentiation.  The sooner a company performs a green retrofit, the more they stand to gain.  It is likely that in the next three years, companies that do not have green workplaces will be at a competitive disadvantage from higher operating costs and an increasingly negative brand image.  Owners and investors in conventional buildings will be less able to compete in the marketplace as green buildings become every tenants’ preferred choice. 

With all of this in mind, the Global Strategic Management Institute (GSMI) is pleased to present the first chapter of The Sustainable Buildings Series:  Retrofits, scheduled for October 20-22, 2009 in San Francisco.  The overall program will provide a blueprint for navigating this sector and implementing sustainable building retrofit strategies.  Day one, October 20th is dedicated to 4 different and separately bookable workshops:  Intelligent & Net Zero Buildings; Green REITs, Advanced Energy Efficient Retrofits, Venture Capital Investment in Sustainable Retrofits. 

Included on main conference agenda are in-depth and diverse topics addressing: Retro Commissioning; Financing & Investment in Sustainable Retrofits; LEED Certification Update; Lowering Energy Costs; Marketing Sustainable Buildings; Green Insurance, Lending and Leasing; Redevelopment & Urban Planning.

Confirmed participating companies include:  BuildingWise, Cushman & Wakefield, Enovity, Evolution Partners, FX Fowle, New Resource Bank, P G & E and many more. [Editor’s note: see attached program for full event schedule.]

Registration fees for The Sustainable Building Series:  Retrofits are $1595 in advance of September 10th and $1995 thereafter, and $495 for a single conference workshop, $795 for two conference workshops.  For more information or to register for the event, go to www.sustainablebuildingsseries.com.

About Global Strategic Management Institute

- END -