6th Annual Challenge for Sustainability Awards: Honoring the City’s Buildings & Businesses in Achieving Real and Measureable GHG and Sustainability Goals
April 16, 2015
Buildings and businesses in ABC’s Challenge for Sustainability program understand that making investments in energy efficiency, working in partnership with their tenants and landlords, and sharing best practices improves their bottom lines and makes them more attractive to future tenants and employees. The Challenge program has become a one-stop shop for their latest sustainability strategies.
On the evening of April 9th, Challenge leaders including Beacon Capital, Boston Properties, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, John Hancock, Nutter McClennen & Fish, Pembroke Real Estate, Sheraton Boston Hotel, State Street Bank, Synergy Investments, The Chiofaro Company and others, gathered at the W Hotel to honor those who’ve achieved the most significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, along with improvements in overall sustainability in 2014. The event also featured guest speaker Alicia Barton, Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
The award for Largest Energy Reduction in 2014 went to the Sheraton Boston Hotel, which implemented major LED lighting upgrades, optimized the boiler plant and developed a water conservation plan in all guest rooms. The Most Improved Challenge Score in 2014 was awarded to the John Hancock Tower, owned by Boston Properties, while Highest Overall Challenge Score went to John Hancock Manulife Financial at 197 Clarendon Street. And the award for Largest Increase in Sustainability Actions in 2014 went to Seaport East, managed by Pembroke Real Estate.
Each year, Challenge for Sustainability participants are asked to vote for an individual whose actions and leadership best meet the goals of the organization. This year the much coveted Peer Award went to Stacy Cawley at Boston Properties, 100 Federal Street.
A new award division was also introduced at the 2015 event—the “Target 2020 Leaders” award which recognizes Challenge participants who’ve achieved a 25% Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, in keeping with the City of Boston’s Climate Action Plan goals of a 25% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The Target 2020 Leaders Award recipients are:
| Organization | Facility | Date Achieved |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Boston | 600 Atlantic Avenue | 2010 |
| The Chiofaro Company | 1 International Place | 2011 |
| Tsoi / Kobus & Associates | 1 Brattle Square | 2011 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Dana Building | 2012 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Shields Warren Building | 2012 |
| Friends of Post Office Square | Zero Post Office Square | 2012 |
| John Hancock / Manulife | 197 Clarendon Street | 2012 |
| John Hancock / Manulife | 601 Congress Street | 2013 |
| The Chiofaro Company | 2 International Place | 2013 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | Landmark Center | 2014 |
| Foley Hoag LLP | Seaport West | 2014 |
| Putnam Investments | 1 Post Office Square | 2014 |
