Sustainability. It’s so much more than a word. It’s a mindset.

As we begin our 31st year, it is appropriate that we are celebrating sustainability in this issue. After all, our 2,600 employees are working together to sustain a beautiful long-term, private and multi-generational business. A business that will be marked by continued profitability, which will allow us to leave a lasting impact on our world. A business that has a driving ethos of goodness, optimism and creation. A business that is thriving, and evergreen.

At Bozzuto, our mission is to create sanctuary. This isn’t confined within the walls of an individual home, but rather we strive to extend this feeling to our communities and the world beyond. With this in mind, I truly believe we can make the world a better place by delivering extraordinary experiences for those we serve.

Our focus on sustainability translates into the environmental impact of the buildings in our portfolio. With an ongoing commitment to make the world a better place, Bozzuto has built a best-in-class sustainability team, led by Pete Zadoretzky. The pride I have for this team is immeasurable. They are laser-focused on creating efficient and healthy living spaces. They create industry-leading initiatives and campaigns for employees and residents alike, and act as a proactive partner to our valuable clients. Their efforts allow our portfolio to realize year-over-year energy and water reductions across our managed portfolio. In addition, our communities save millions of dollars in expenses, while concurrently increasing in asset values.

Under Pete’s leadership, Bozzuto has garnered numerous sustainability awards and designations. Particularly noteworthy is our recent recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for the third year in a row. This honor is awarded to organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Bozzuto is the only multifamily company to have conquered this three-peat, escalating us to the EPA’s highest honor–Sustained Excellence.

But we have only just begun. Our sustainability strategy is always future focused, which is why I am especially proud of our recent commitment to the RE100 initiative, joining such incredible companies as Microsoft, Google, 3M, Starbucks and Apple. This initiative promises to work towards creating a better, cleaner world through 100% renewable electricity. You see, doing the right thing is not only how we do business, it is why we do business.

We take pride in all the good things we have accomplished, while remaining humble and hungry in our efforts to get even better every day.