But what about the financial barriers to going LEED-EB?

This is a great short video on LEED-ED and the market drivers and influencers that are creating a shift in why landlords are seriously considering LEED-EB. The major problem that is not addressed in this video is the financial barrier of achieving LEED-EB. I think every landlord understands the advantages of LEED-EB, but when they get the analysis of what it will take they step back and say "we can't pay for all that." Sure, sometimes achieving the LEED-EB certification doesn't require a substantial investment, but what about when it does? What does a landlord do when they find out that their HVAC system and other related energy controls have to be completely replaced for a tune of $3 Million dollars. How are they going to pay for it?

Q&A about MESA - When, where and why

With this mini-brochure we answer a few of the larger questions we get about using MESA when funding EE projects in the existing commercial building market.

Q: Why wouldn't the owner make the energy retrofit investments if they generate returns MESA's investors?

Q: What about triple net leased buildings? How does MESA work?

Q: What about buildings with full service gross leases (where the landlord pays all operating costs)?

Q: When would it make sense to use our own capital?

Q&A about MESA and Transcend's Financial Solution for EE Projects

Case Study - MESA Solution for 1025 Elm Street in Dallas, Texas

This Managed Energy Services Agreement case study shows how the building owner accomplished over $10 million in capital improvements at no cost while still recovering their reserve fund from their lender.
Transcend 1025 Elm Project Profile

Podcast Presentation: Going Green in Existing Commercial Real Estate - The Split Incentive Problem

NYInc Magazine runs first Green Issue

In it's most recent issue the NYInc Magazine covered the subject of "How Green Are We?"

As part of their in-depth reporting the magazine named 13 EcoPeople that are considered the brightest advocates for the Green Movement and Sustainability in the city.

Sean Neill (Managing Director at Transcend Equity and owner of Cycle-7) was named as one of the thirteen "Green leaders."

Part of Sean's interview:

As managing director at Transcend Equity Development Inc., Sean Neill has worked with large buildings for years and understands the difficulties landlords face in retrofitting properties. That’s why, last year, he started Cycle-7 to help landlords jump the legal and financial hurdles on their way to becoming green by developing financial strategies that will generate a return. In the same vein, Transcend invests in buildings to fund retrofits, with “no debt or liens associated—secured only by the savings,” says Neill. Transcend has funded about 30 retrofits so far, and will fund about 10 more this quarter. Neill hopes that by investing in buildings, the energy savings that are generated will be used to pay for the retrofit.

Read more about the other twelve EcoPeople named by the magazine.

Green Operations Summit May 6, 2010 (Dallas, Texas)

On May 6th the Vice President of Transcend Equity, Steve Gossett Jr., will be the keynote speaker at this all-day event in Dallas. The main purpose of this event is to educate building owners and operators on the new trends, programs and improvements when it comes to energy efficiencies in commercial real estate.

Mr. Gossett's keynote address will primarily cover the split incentive problem facing commercial real estate landlords.

Hope to see you there. Register here for the Green Operations Summit.

The event is part of the North Texas Green Council.

Detailed report on energy efficiency financing by CalCEF Innovations

This report released back in February of 2010 is one of the better ones written in the last year or two. Bob Hinkle and David Kenny do a good job of covering everything from the basics to the major hurdles facing large commercial (and others) energy efficiency projects.

Obviously the biggest hurdle facing the commercial market is how do landlords pay for or finance large CapEx projects when the split incentive exist between the landlord and the tenants.

Bob worked with Steve Gossett Jr. on the section of the report that covers Transcend Equity's Managed Energy Services Agreement (or MESA).

The CalCEF report uncovers into good detail on six case studies.