Hines, an international real estate firm, is proving companies can build and operate green without having to submit to the expensive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) process. Hines has designed a system similar to LEED and one that accomplishes the same goal: sustainability. 

The Hines Green Office (HinesGO) system builds on and compliments U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EnergyStar program, both programs which the company also participates in. Like LEED and EnergyStar, offices are assessed for energy and water efficiency, sustainable materials, waste reduction and recycling, indoor air quality and maintenance products, and transportation options.

Through the HinesGO initiative, the company is greening 177 office spaces managed by the firm. They have completed assessing and implementing greener operating methods for 89 of their international offices to date in addition to building green from the start.

LEED has done an excellent job of transforming the new and retrofit construction industry to greener, more sustainable buildings. The HinesGO program expands on existing standards by also factoring in cost benefits, and factors such as employee traveling, recycling of all materials, and human considerations.  Having a program like this can also be cheaper and less time consuming than other certification processes, and could assist companies to make sustainable improvements that might be otherwise unrealistic in these economic times.