Verdigris Group Wins "2013 Best of Chicago Award" in Commercial Real Estate; Begins Next Ultra-Green Luxury Development

Online, October 17, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Verdigris Group has recently been awarded the "2013 Best of Chicago Award" for Commercial Real Estate Firms. Recognizing the best of Chicago business, the Chicago Awards Program Board of Review stated; "This recognition is a result of your dedication and efforts as well as the work of others in your organization that have helped build your business. Your team is now a part of an exclusive group of small businesses that have achieved this selection. We focus on companies that have demonstrated their ability to use various marketing methods to grow their business in spite of difficult economic times. The companies chosen exemplify the best of small business; often leading through customer service and community involvement."

Verdigris Group, the renowned "certified carbon-neutral company since 2007" has also been recognized recently for their corporate social responsibility initiatives, their skilled LEED & Green Building Consulting Division, and their multiple award-winning real estate developments.

Just this month, Verdigris Group joined global business giants including GM, Nike, Unilever, Starbucks, Microsoft and The North Face to issue a "Climate Declaration" calling action on climate change one of the greatest opportunities of the 21st century. Verdigris Group joined these companies "to confirm our commitment to a bright future by officially signing this important Climate Declaration" said, Mr. Garratt Hasenstab, Principal, LEED AP BD+C and Director of Development for Verdigris Group. Mr. Hasenstab continues, "This powerful declaration represents a coalition of businesses committed to working with policy makers to pass meaningful energy and climate legislation that will enable a rapid transition to a low-carbon, 21st century economy, that will create new jobs and stimulate economic growth while stabilizing our planet's fragile climate. This declaration empowers the global corporate network to act, when politics might otherwise be stagnant on the issue".

Recently interviewed and featured in the Forbes piece entitled "The Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility" Hasenstab, along with top executives at close to 60 other companies that operate with the mission to provide positive social and environmental impact beyond their daily business activities said, "Verdigris Group is focused on being a leader in the area of corporate social responsibility. We have developed a comprehensive set of sustainable business initiatives that facilitate our triple bottom-line approach to operating our business, leading by example in business ethics and corporate social responsibility."

Verdigris Group has operated as a certified carbon-neutral corporation since 2007, offsetting their operational impact through supporting renewable energy projects, purchasing carbon-offsets and watershed restoration certificates, establishing reforestation initiatives, and being involved in their communities' non-profit conservancies, both at the volunteer level as well as the Board of Directors level.

Excerpted from the Forbes article Hasenstab said, "Our CSR policy is at the core of our daily operations and guides our future progress. We benefit from these efforts in a number of ways. Our clients want to work with us because we are focused on a healthier and more productive world. Our development clients can rely on us to develop their projects to the highest standards of energy efficiency and occupant health, while creating an architecturally resonant project that reflects our mission and vision. Of course we save money by operating more efficiently which is a direct benefit of our CSR efforts, however the true value we receive from our ongoing initiatives is that of social good will - we believe that setting a good example is the greatest benefit in that we inspire other organizations, companies and individuals to 'up their game' when it comes to social and environmental responsibility, which in turn encourages further inspiration in the community leading to a more enlightened perspective on how to run ones business or lead one's life."

Verdigris Group is currently getting ready to break ground on their next ultra-green, multi-family, luxury real estate development located in the ski-mecca of Breckenridge, Colorado. Regarding this project, Hasenstab said, "Our development perspective is grounded in knowing that each of our projects serves as a leading example of what conscientious real estate development can achieve. Our projects bring forth a triple bottom-line asset to the community - generating aesthetic resonance, economic value and positive social impact; thus serving as a catalyst for future sustainable development as well as further depth of thought in sustainability as it relates to our built environment."

These homes will not disappoint as they are slated to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council, the 'holy grail of green building', as well as Energy Star for Homes certification through the US EPA. The development is situated in the heart of downtown Breckenridge, within the highly-preserved historic district, thus the aesthetic resonance of the project is critically important to the overall character of this historic mountain town. Verdigris Group's policy is to only undertake projects that achieve a significant level of sustainability by seeking LEED Platinum certification for each development. Mr. Hasenstab explains, "The goal is to put forth property developments that are as carbon-neutral as possible. We believe this is a better measure of sustainability than claiming 'net-zero energy'. Net-zero can be purchased, whereas a carbon-neutral development is planned carefully to embody as little environmental impact as possible through the course of development, from inception to completion."

Their new development in Breckenridge will serve as a beacon of sustainability in Colorado's high country. For information on this development including pre-construction pricing, designs, specifications, options and floor-plans, contact Verdigris Group development division, Verdigris Properties directly at (800) 805-2830 or email them at [email protected].

Verdigris Group is veteran National Corporate Member of the U.S. Green Building Council, an Energy Star Builder Partner, a certified carbon neutral corporation through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and provides the following services:

• Green, High-Performance Property Development;
• LEED® Certification Management Consulting;
• Energy Star® for Homes Property Development Consulting;
• Residential and Commercial Energy Consulting;
• Green Product Certification Documentation Development;
• Commercial & Residential Brokerage Services;
• Carbon Solutions & Sustainable Business Consulting Services;
• Green Business & Sustainable Enterprise Management Consulting