About Wells > Wells and the Environment

Greener Growth

As good stewards of the resources entrusted to our care, Wells Real Estate Funds is committed to improving our sustainable practices to drive value and help create exceptional environments for our stakeholders, and for the communities in which we operate.

Wells' Green Commitments

• Evaluate the resource footprint of every property.
• Advance feasible, cost-effective strategies intended to decrease energy costs and increase resource sustainability.
• Engage our tenants and service providers to promote continuous and measurable improvements in the sustainable use of resources.
• Support and participate in educational programs to encourage employee, tenant, and service provider best practices.
• Include a resource sustainability assessment for potential acquisitions.

Both Wells REIT II and Wells Timberland intend to apply the best practices of their respective industries for using resources conscientiously.

Wells REIT II

Committed to energy efficiency since the start of its offering in 2003, Wells REIT II follows a five-point strategy intended to maximize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact across its portfolio:

1. Document the strategy for each property to improve energy consumption while minimizing operational costs.
2. Measure each asset’s progress against benchmarks such as the ENERGY STAR^® rating system and the LEED certification checklist.*
3. Communicate with tenants and vendors to evaluate more cost-efficient, energy-saving ways to meet tenants’ needs.
4. Educate staff regarding green operational practices, such as using eco-friendly building supplies and cleaning products, and the latest industry best practices.
5. Certify buildings in the government’s ENERGY STAR rating system or LEED certification program, where it makes sense. The energy consumption of all properties in the portfolio is tracked using the ENERGY STAR system.

Wells Timberland

The Wells Timberland portfolio is certified as sustainable forestland by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an independent industry benchmark for sustainable forest management practices that requires forest owners to follow these environmental guidelines:

1. Conserve forests and forest resources by using economically, environmentally, and socially sound forestry practices that ensure long-term forest productivity.
2. Protect the water quality, wildlife habitats, beauty, and biological diversity of forest resources, as well as the unique value of lands of special conservational or social significance, through responsible forest management.
3. Promote the efficient use of forest resources and the practice of sustainable forestry by reporting progress and providing opportunities for others to participate in the commitment to sustainable forestry.

*Two independent rating systems recognize America’s exceptional green buildings:

• The Environmental Protection Agency/Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR is America’s symbol for energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR buildings must achieve a score of 75 or higher on a 100-point scale, making them among the nation’s top 25% most energy-efficient buildings.
• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System^TM is the benchmark for sustainable building design. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED evaluates buildings for energy efficiency, sustainable site development, water savings, materials selection, and indoor environmental air quality.