Deutsche Bank has joined leading building owners, investment advisory firms and corporate tenants in committing to a Green Lease Action Plan which aims to address the challenges of energy efficiency and sustainability in leased commercial space. Deutsche Bank Global Logistics Services (GLS)* and RREEF (the real estate investment management business of Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division), in association with the Greenprint Foundation, are amongst the first in the industry to agree to the Green Lease Action Plan.

The initiative is based on the principles that landlords and tenants should operate their buildings as sustainably as is commercially feasible, that the value of energy savings achieved through building efficiency improvements should be available to pay for the improvements and, that usage and demand for resources throughout the building should be measurable and transparent to both Landlord and Tenant.

“This is not about owners or tenants making financial sacrifices to enhance energy and sustainability in buildings—it’s about creating economic incentives on both sides to create win-win scenarios economically and environmentally,” said Charles B. Leitner III, Chief Executive Officer, Greenprint Foundation.

Committing to the Green Lease Action plan is an important step in addressing the energy and environmental challenges in the built environment, which is responsible for up to 40 per cent of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in many countries.

For RREEF, tackling these issues will help it to achieve substantial operating efficiencies and to create better long-term asset value, and ultimately deliver value to its clients. For Deutsche Bank GLS, the Green Lease Action Plan will help reduce costs and support the bank’s commitment to being carbon-neutral by 2013.

*Deutsche Bank Global Logistics Services manages the bank’s Corporate Real Estate, Procurement and Global Travel activities.