Back in 1999, for the first time, a building earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification by outperforming at least 75 percent of its peers. Now, 15 years later, Principal Real Estate Investors is helping to mark the anniversary of this milestone event by earning ENERGY STAR certification for more than 50 of its properties in 2014.

Principal Real Estate Investors became involved with EPA’s ENERGY STAR program in 2009 and since then has made ENERGY STAR a strategic part of their overall portfolio-wide sustainability initiative. Organizations and businesses across the country have been participating in an EPA campaign called “Certification Nation,” which features stories, tips, and advice, as well as a blitz of certification activity across the country.

"Principal Real Estate Investors is pleased to help EPA celebrate 15 years of ENERGY STAR certified buildings,” said Jennifer McConkey, Director of Operations & Sustainability at Principal Real Estate Investors. "Our own ENERGY STAR buildings have delivered energy and cost savings, and have helped us reduce our organization’s carbon footprint—three things that all of us have reason to celebrate.”

Commercial buildings that earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency. They use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and are responsible for 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Principal Real Estate Investors improved its energy performance to ENERGY STAR levels by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings. Through these efforts, Principal Real Estate Investors has prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity use from 8,500 households for a year.

“What we’re really celebrating this year are the achievements of the businesses and organizations that work every day to manage building energy use,” said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “Together, their top-performing properties have achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as cost savings for our cities, our schools, and the businesses that power America’s economy.”

Since 1999, more than 24,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance. As of the end of 2013, they’ve prevented more than 40 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and saved more than $3 billion on utility bills.

Products, homes and buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved an estimated $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 38 million homes. From the first ENERGY STAR qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, 1.5 million new homes, and 24,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants.

For more information about Certification Nation and the 15th anniversary for ENERGY STAR Certification for Commercial Buildings: www.energystar.gov/CertificationNation.

About Principal Real Estate Investors
Principal Real Estate Investors manages or sub-advises $54.3 billion in commercial real estate assets1. The firm’s real estate capabilities include both public and private equity and debt investment alternatives. Principal Real Estate Investors is the dedicated real estate group of Principal Global Investors, a diversified asset management organization and a member of the Principal Financial Group®.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)2 is a global investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in 1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500®, the Principal Financial Group has $513.5 billion in assets under management3 and serves some 19.5 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

1 As of Sept. 30, 2014.
2 “The Principal Financial Group” and “The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
3 As of Sept. 30, 2014.