Apple, Inc.’s newly-minted second headquarters in Cupertino, California, is setting the bar high for green leasing as it makes a roaring comeback.
Consisting of 80 percent green space, the world-class Apple Park houses an employee cafeteria offering fruit from its own trees, energy powered by a roof covered in solar panels, and drought resistant plants to conserve water and protect against changes in the environment.
Here in Denver, Zeppelin Station is one of our newest developments that hits the mark for green leasing.
From the Silicon Valley to the Mile High City, green leasing is making a big comeback as younger workers look to employers who offer healthier work environments. A green lease in a green building serves as an important leverage point in attracting tomorrow’s workforce. Landlords who invest in green upgrades and environmentally friendly practices will be one step ahead of other landlords in attracting new tenants.
LEED certification
Landlords and tenants have traditionally chased LEED ratings to show that they were going green. LEED ratings are issued by the U.S. Green Building Council to certify green construction and operation of a building. Green leases typically require the landlord to construct and/or operate its building in compliance with LEED requirements. While LEED ratings continue to remain important, other facets of green leasing offer much more for tomorrow’s workforce.
Lifestyle comes first
Younger workers in Denver are gravitating towards employers who provide a healthier work environment and lifestyle beyond just offering competitive compensation. Employers are scrambling to respond. Landlords, likewise, are moving forward at an unprecedented pace with green upgrades and environmentally friendly practices.
Denver’s young workforce values proximity to public transportation, first-rate bicycle facilities, on-site gym facilities, vehicle charging stations and prime parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles. They also want a location that is convenient to their lifestyle, so that they can ride-share to work and walk out of their office and be only a few steps away from restaurants, bars, shopping and other modern amenities. Modern, mixed-use developments and transit-oriented developments are designed to offer these services and amenities in a hub that is convenient to today’s lifestyle where everything you need is at your fingertips.