Taking actionable steps toward sustainable living
Elme is committed to investing in the sustainable development and operations of our communities—building healthy, efficient homes for our residents.
Investing in eco-friendly communities
At Elme, we continuously search for innovative ways to make eco-friendly upgrades within our communities. In our efforts to foster healthy, sustainable living spaces for our residents, we installed ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, efficient water and irrigation systems, LED lighting, recycling systems, and other upgrades across our portfolio. As of 2021, roughly one-third of our communities are Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certified, the first multi-family properties in the U.S. to achieve the standard.
We set ambitious goals over the next 10 years
Both small changes and big initiatives leads to lasting environmental impact
100%
Of home renovations have Energy Star and WaterSense appliances and fixtures.
67%
Of communities rated as “bikeable” to support sustainable commutes.
86%
Of communities have double pane windows to preserve energy.
22%
Of common area electricity at communities is renewable energy purchased from local and regional sources
71%
Of communities eliminated or reduced the use of irrigation systems.
72%
Of communities have at least one sustainability certification.
Our current green initiatives
Green bond
In 2021, Elme completed the allocation of a $350 million Green Bond to finance green building projects, helping to mitigate the risks of climate change. View the report.
GRESB
Elme is a proud participant in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), increasing our ranking from 60 to 77 in six years.
Solar projects
In 2021/2022, we installed solar panels across two properties, providing around 20% of the buildings’ electricity and offsetting 474,000 kg of carbon emissions.
Building certifications
Over 70% of our portfolio has at least one sustainability certification—a stat we want to increase by 10% over the next five years.