Green.org sat down with Comly Wilson, Director of Marketing at Enertiv, to learn about how they are making the real estate industry more sustainable.
Tell us a little bit about you and your background:
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I went to school at American University where I became passionate about climate change and sustainability. My first job was at CleanEdison, a company that provided vocational education for green jobs – teaching electricians to install solar panels, HVAC technicians to perform energy audits, etc. It was there that I realized I also had a passion for startups and entrepreneurship. CleanEdison was acquired and, after trying and failing to launch my own company, I joined Enertiv. Enertiv is an operational intelligence platform for commercial real estate. The technology is the first to combine workflow management tools for building engineers and property managers with real-time data and a focus on sustainability performance.
What is a fun fact about you?
Before buying a house in Connecticut in August, I spent 15 months living and working nomadically, including stints outside national parks, in Europe, South America and Canada
Why do you think climate change and sustainability is such an important topic today?
I believe it is the defining challenge of my generation. It touches on every single thing that every single person and business does every day.
What do you envision your industry looking like 10 years from now?
Commercial real estate is undergoing a digital transformation currently. It has historically been a laggard in technology adoption, but it is catching up quickly. At the same time, institutional investors are demanding ESG reporting and performance, and municipalities are mandating reduced carbon emissions for buildings. In 10 years, commercial real estate will look very different. There will be sensors on everything. In many cases, the operations of the building will be completed automated to optimize for energy efficiency and occupant health. The sensors will also be alerting technicians and engineers to mechanical faults and failures predictively, allowing far fewer people manage more buildings.
What can the average person do to make a difference?
Ask about sustainability whenever you’re signing a lease or buying real estate. These questions create pressure that translates into action.