The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) is seeking nominations for its prestigious Green Development Award, honoring a member-developer for an outstanding project that best utilizes green elements in design, energy usage and development. NAIOP, the nation's leading organization representing the interests of commercial real estate executives engaged in industrial, office and mixed-use development, will mark its fourth annual year for the award, which was developed in consultation with the U.S. Green Building Council. "The Green Development Award continues to encourage real estate developers nationwide to engage in green development," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "This prestigious award recognizes developers who are leading the transformation of our built environment and highlights those who are an inspiration to the community." Developers choosing to nominate their company's project will be asked to submit a full packet of materials that outlines how the project best exemplifies innovation, efficiency and quality in the field of green development. Criteria for the award include the following: * Sustainable Sites * Indoor Environmental Quality * Water Efficiency * Energy and Atmosphere * Economic Sustainability * Materials Use Established in 2005, the award was created to recognize the growing number of firms engaged in green development. NAIOP and its member companies, who are committed to developing model properties adhering to the highest standards in the industry, believe that socially conscious development is essential to the economic vitality of the industry. "NAIOP's Green Development Award continues to symbolize the innovation, creativity and environmentally friendly approach members are utilizing to develop model properties," said Thomas Bisacquino, NAIOP president. "The fact that members strive to receive this award is a confirmation that tremendous value is placed on responsible, sustainable development." Past winners include Corporate Office Properties Trust for its development at 318 Sentinel Drive in Annapolis Junction, Md., and Hines for its project at 1180 Peachtree in Atlanta, Ga. In 2008, the Lazarus Building, developed by the Georgetown Company, New York, N.Y., and Johnson Diversey, developed by Liberty Property Trust, Milwaukee, Wis., were selected as outstanding speculative and build-to-suit projects, respectively. The 2008 award winner will be named in July and honored at NAIOP's conference, development '08: the annual meeting for commercial real estate, October 20-23, in Las Vegas. The Green Development Award is one element of NAIOP's commitment to green. In 2007, NAIOP introduced its sustainable development policy, which calls on NAIOP members to "employ every usable, cost-effective, sustainable strategy available." NAIOP established a national Green Task Force last year to examine the issues and opportunities associated with green development. In March, NAIOP held its first DevelopGREEN: Sustainable Solutions for Commercial Real Estate conference in Glendale, Ariz. Learn more about NAIOP's commitment to green online at www.naiop.org/resourcecenter/gr.cfm. For more information about the NAIOP Green Development Award and to access an application form, visit the NAIOP Web site at www.naiop.org/newsroom/greenaward.cfm.