In the second part of Leading Voices in Real Estate’s discussion surrounding sustainability in the built environment, Matt is joined by Elena Alschuler, Head of Americas Sustainability for LaSalle Investment Management, and Marta Schantz, head of ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance. While much of the global conversation surrounding carbon emissions centers on transportation issues the built environment is responsible for about 40% of global emissions, while transportation is just 20%. Directly after recording this episode, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new report going further than any previous statement indicating that climate change is “a code red for humanity”. While some of these changes are irreversible, this demonstrates the growing importance of climate mitigation and adaptation globally, particularly in the real estate industry. Both Elena and Marta share their perspectives from their respective roles, Elena being with a leading real estate investor, and Marta leading a global alliance of real estate owners, investors, and strategic partners from the Urban Land Institute. They discuss strategies for organizations to reduce their carbon footprint as well as advice for current and future leaders of the real estate industry to tackle this issue head-on.

About Elena:

Elena is a central leader for LaSalle’s North America sustainability initiatives. She works closely with the firm’s Portfolio Management team on sustainability strategies, as well as its Asset Management group to develop programs for property-level initiatives, including certifications, efficiency projects, energy procurement, green leases, and health & wellness projects.

Elena joins LaSalle from View Inc., where she led real estate activities including the firm’s strategy and execution to scale adoption of smart glass in the office and multifamily sectors across the US and Canada. Prior to View Inc., Elena worked at the US Department of Energy in Washington, DC as a Building Technologies Project Manager, as well as the MIT Department of Urban Studies & Planning in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and HR&A Advisors in New York.

She has a Bachelor’s degree from Bard College, and a Masters in City Planning from MIT

About Marta:

Marta Schantz is the senior vice president for the Greenprint Center for Building Performance at the Urban Land Institute, a research center and worldwide alliance of real estate leaders committed to improving the environmental performance of the industry – reducing carbon emissions, and increasing building value. Recent focus areas range from City/Real Estate Partnerships for Climate Policy, to Embodied Carbon in Real Estate, to Net Zero Buildings. Before her time at ULI, Marta worked at Waypoint Energy, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the US Department of Energy. Marta is a LEED Green Associate and a Fitwel Ambassador. She holds a BS in biological engineering with a minor in science technology and society from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Resources

• LaSalle Investment Management Sustainability Website
• ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance Website
• LaSalle Report: ESG Themes Take Center Stage (May 2021)
• ULI Greenprint’s Blueprint for Green Real Estate Report (2020)
• United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report
• A Code Red for Humanity: Latest U.N. Report Reveals Many Climate Changes Irreversible (Urban Land Magazine Article | August 2021)
• Benchmark Your Building Using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®
• Greentech Media’s Energy Gang Podcast
• GRESB Real Estate Reference Guide (2021)
• Design the Future Podcast