Green Building Initiative acquires global rights to Green Globes

PORTLAND, ORE. , Jan. 10, 2018 — The U.S.-based non-profit Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced earlier this week that it has completed acquisition of the global rights to Green Globes®, a leading sustainability rating system for commercial and multi-family buildings. This acquisition from JLL now allows GBI to support existing Green Globes users in Canada, in addition to the United States, and to expand the reach of the rating system globally.

"This acquisition is a clear win for GBI and our growing base of Green Globes users," stated Vicki Worden, President & CEO of GBI. "Consolidating Green Globes under GBI was a logical and natural next step to further our mission to accelerate the adoption of green building best practices in the built environment."

JLL is a global professional services firm specializing in real estate and investment management, and offers sustainability consulting to its vast client base. JLL purchased the global rights to Green Globes in 2008 as part of its acquisition of ECD Energy and Environment Canada, the entity responsible for developing the underlying technology. GBI first licensed the U.S. rights to Green Globes in 2004 from ECD.

"As a nonprofit, GBI is in a better position to grow the sustainability movement as the sole owner and promoter of Green Globes, and we have every confidence in GBI's ability to do so," stated Bob Best, Executive Vice President of JLL. "We value Green Globes as a tool we use with our clients and property managers, and because of this acquisition, GBI can continue to grow Green Globes as a global assessment program."

According to Worden, GBI has experienced significant growth over the last two years and has certified 1,594 buildings or almost 300 million square feet of real estate since its founding in 2004—1,328 buildings through its Green Globes program and 266 buildings through its Guiding Principles Compliance program for U.S. government buildings. Green Globes has garnered significant attention recently, and counts major national brands such as Whole Foods, Fidelity, and MGM Resorts as part of its expanding customer portfolio.

"Green Globes is filling a gap in the market," stated Rich Mitchell, Managing Principal at Portland, Ore.-based Mackenzie and elected Chair of the Board of GBI. "It's comprehensive and flexible, as well as time- and cost-effective. Design and operations teams are finding it a beneficial tool for their sustainability-minded owners."

GBI has established a Canadian non-profit subsidiary—GB Initiative Canada—to support the growth and previously established use of Green Globes in the Canadian marketplace.

About GBI

The GBI is a nonprofit organization and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards Developer dedicated to accelerating the adoption of green building best practices. Founded in 2004, the organization is the sole provider of the Green Globes and federal Guiding Principles Compliance building assessment programs. 

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $145 billion. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000. As of September 30, 2017, LaSalle Investment Management had $59.0 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.