CP Group, a leading owner-operator and developer of commercial real estate throughout the Southeast and Southwest, announced today it has formally committed to reducing its carbon emissions to a net-zero level by 2050.

The initiative, created by ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance, aims to mitigate the built environment’s impact on climate change through measurement, benchmarking, knowledge sharing, and implementing best practices among its members. In addition to CP Group, the other major industry players such as AEW Capital Management, Jamestown LP, Brookfield Properties, and Tishman Speyer have aligned their own operational goals with ULI’s mission.

“United with this esteemed group of leading, innovative real estate companies with a common mission to achieve ULI Greenprint’s net-zero carbon goals is a milestone event for us,” said Managing Partner Angelo Bianco. “Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the most important initiatives in our ESG program along with promoting broader environmental responsibility and providing a wellness-focused tenant experience across our 15-million-square-foot portfolio.”

In addition to achieving net-zero carbon operations by 2050, all members also agree to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030.

CP Group’s efforts are led by Elena Villarreal Daniel, the company’s first Director of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Hired in June 2021, Daniel spearheads ESG initiatives throughout the organization, working closely with regional teams across the firm’s nearly 15-million-square-foot portfolio.

In addition to its induction into ULI Greenprint, CP Group has recently implemented a series of other ESG initiatives since hiring Daniel earlier this year, including:

• A partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR® Program, marking the commercial real estate firm’s fundamental commitment to environmental protection through continuous improvement of facilities and operations energy performance.
• As part of the company’s Diversity & Inclusion plan, the firm’s partners Angelo Bianco and Chris Eachus have signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ pledge, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As participants in the pledge, CP Group committed to achieving four goals: cultivating trusting workplaces, implementing and/or expanding unconscious bias education, sharing the best and most challenging diversity strategies, and creating and sharing strategic inclusion and diversity plans with key stakeholders.
• The achievement of WELL Health-Safety Rating (WELL HSR) for five of its Atlanta office buildings assets. WELL HSR addresses standards for the health, safety, and well-being of buildings through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The certified office buildings include Paces West, Cumberland Center II, Cumberland Center IV, Lakeside, and Ashford Perimeter. With these certifications achieved, Daniel is working with the remaining regional property teams to prepare them for certification with a goal of attaining WELL HSR across CP Group’s entire portfolio by the end of the year. WELL HSR is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement, and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future.

“I am incredibly proud of the progress CP Group has made in the past few months in support of the company’s environmental, social, and governance goals,” said Elena Villarreal Daniel, CP Group’s Director of ESG. “Our commitment to ESG is an ongoing process which requires the support of our experienced team to advance our goals and ensure our buildings and the communities where we invest can remain strong, healthy, and positioned for future success.”