Environmental, Social and Governance
ESG Programs
We support and encourage responsible stewardship of resources through sustainability efforts throughout a property’s lifecycle.
ESG Commitment
We are committed to incorporating high ESG standards into our business strategies and day-to-day operations. We strive to minimize the environmental impact of our real assets while enhancing communities across the Americas and Western Europe.
Our ESG policy was created to formalize and expand on our continued commitment to incorporate ESG best practices and act in the best interests of our partners, shareholders and co-investors.
ESG Timeline
- CIM publishes first public ESG Report.
- CIM launches first annual 7 Days of Sustainability Challenge at corporate offices and properties.
- CIM invests in an affiliate of MAS CanAm, LLC with a plan to partner on investments in future renewable natural gas projects.
- CIM property Southern Towers serves as a COVID-19 vaccination site in partnership with the City of Alexandria, VA.
- CIM partners with Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home.
- CIM invests in Ecoppia, a manufacturer, installer and operator of robotic cleaning solutions for utility-scale solar projects.
- CIM property Montclair Place hosts COVID-19 drive-through testing for the community of Montclair, CA.
- CIM partners with City Year Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced schools and communities.
- CIM expands its Sustainability Policy to an ESG Policy.
- CIM’s Principals sign an ESG commitment letter.
- CIM’s corporate headquarters in Los Angeles begins participation with the recycLA program.
- CIM launches its own version of the EPA’s “Treasure Hunt” program.
- CIM establishes CIMpact, to formalize its ongoing commitment to community service and philanthropic efforts.
- CIM establishes a Diversity & Inclusion Council.
- CIM acquires an interest in NOVVA Data Centers in Salt Lake City, UT, which is designed to use ambient air instead of water for cooling, saving precious water resources.
- CIM begins its Consumption Tracking Program, a program focused on tracking and reducing carbon emissions at CIM’s assets.
- CIM acquires Cheyenne Data Center, which uses 100% renewable power and features energy-efficient design.
- CIM becomes a UN PRI signatory.
- CIM acquires 400 Paul Avenue data center in San Francisco, CA, supporting social and commercial needs for the city’s fast-growing technology community.
- CIM establishes its Environmental Management System (EMS), governing the tracking of energy, emissions, water and waste.
- CIM becomes a voluntary partner with the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program.
- CIM acquires Maryville Tire Partners in Maryville, MO, a facility that recycles end-of-life tires for sustainable alternatives.
- CIM helps transform a historic Oakland, CA seaport with the development of Jack London Square, supporting community needs with housing, amenities and attractions.
- CIM corporate offices begin using biodegradable tableware and compostable cutlery.
- CIM commences participation in GRESB.
- CIM acquires Westlands Solar Park in San Joaquin Valley, CA, repurposing selenium-contaminated and drainage-impaired farmland for the development of clean energy.
- CIM formally establishes its Sustainability Policy.
- CIM acquires SkyPower Global, the first solar development company in Ontario, Canada.
- CIM acquires the historic Seaholm Power Plant in Austin, TX with a plan to reposition the structure into creative office space and establish an adjacent public green space for cultural and community needs.
- CIM formalizes its Infrastructure Strategy.
- CIM begins investing in the Antelope Valley water bank, a groundwater storage facility helping provide communities in California with water solutions during drought.
- CIM opens a Ralphs Supermarket, the first grocery store in downtown Los Angeles in over 50 years, allowing the local community to reduce vehicle miles traveled for an essential retailer.
- CIM works with the city of Los Angeles to repurpose the historical tower at 7046 Hollywood Boulevard to meet residential needs in Hollywood, CA.
- CIM partners with the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency to develop the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, creating a dynamic gathering space in downtown Anaheim, CA.
- CIM begins Flower Street Lofts, its first downtown Los Angeles project, to provide housing to support a shift toward shorter commutes and urban living.
- CIM partners with the city of San Diego to preserve historical landmarks while meeting the residential and infrastructure needs of downtown San Diego, CA.
- CIM contributes to the revitalization of Hollywood Boulevard by securing essential retailers such as pharmacies and supermarkets, while preserving and repurposing historical landmark buildings.
- CIM begins energy efficiency programs with the acquisition of its first office building at 6992 Hollywood Boulevard.
- CIM works with the city of Brea, California to develop retail destinations and loft apartments, supporting the city’s longstanding vision of creating a vibrant downtown community.
- CIM establishes real estate investment and development strategies to help support, enhance and grow communities.
- CIM contributes to the revitalization of Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, CA by bringing celebrated national retailers to the district and creating a community gathering place.
Kingsley Excellence
We own and operate properties across the country that have achieved a Kingsley Excellence award, which recognizes properties that outperform the Kingsley Index™ industry benchmark for overall tenant or resident satisfaction. The index is the largest and most comprehensive performance benchmarking database in the industry. Our Kingsley Excellence award winners include office buildings LoDo Towers in Denver and 1440 Broadway in New York City.
LEED Certification
We are proud to have LEED certified buildings in communities across the Americas. The locations include offices, retail spaces, multifamily residences and more. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating program which operates under the umbrella of the U.S. Green Building Council. We continuously strive to improve sustainability in our operating systems and other building aspects across our portfolio. A few examples of our LEED certified buildings include Trellis House (for-rent residential) in Washington, D.C., 432 Park Avenue (for-sale residential) in New York City and Two California Plaza (office) in downtown Los Angeles.
COIN Qualification
A subset of our infrastructure projects was recognized for sustainability by the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), a division of the California Department of Insurance. The COIN program supports safe, sound and solvent investments that offer an acceptable financial return and provide tangible social and environmental benefits to underserved communities.
This qualification resulted from our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions through our assets to increase energy and resource efficiency, and to create safe, healthy and productive workplaces.
Our key sustainability initiatives include:
We are a proud member of the PRI, a United Nations-supported international network of investor signatories that work together to understand the investment implications of ESG factors.
We use the GRESB assessment as a tool to address our ESG practices and to measure the achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at select assets.
We are a voluntary partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star® Program. Whenever possible, we strive to achieve Energy Star® and LEED green building ratings at our properties.
We participate in the BOMA 360 Performance Program to evaluate our property operations and management practices and increase efficiencies and tenant satisfaction.
We participate in the Green Seal certification program at select assets to help continuously improve and monitor environmental and health standards.
Westlands Solar Park
San Joaquin Valley, CA
Westlands Solar Park is one of the world’s largest energy parks, encompassing more than 20,000 acres in California’s San Joaquin Valley. After acquiring the property in 2014, CIM began to repurpose the salt-contaminated and drainage-impaired farmland for the development of clean energy.
To avoid any significant biological impacts and meet the needs of public and private utilities, CIM’s development plan for the solar park was designed in individual projects. At full buildout, Westlands has the potential to provide more than 2,700 megawatts (2.7 gigawatts) of renewable energy and could supply energy for more than 1.2 million homes.
The project has garnered support from several environmental communities including Sierra Club, National Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife and the Center of Biological Diversity. As one of CIM’s clean energy projects, Westlands Solar Park is reducing greenhouse gases, increasing carbon-free energy, and contributing to economic development in California’s Central Valley communities.
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