Rising Creates Partnership at 1 Cal Plaza to Promote ESG

UL Solutions’ collaboration with 1 Cal Plaza allowed the building to pursue certifications and verifications that would enhance its reputation as a sustainable building. 

1 Cal Plaza General Manager Nina Desiderio emphasized, “Buildings are responsible for such a large part of energy use, and as a high rise totaling over a million square feet, we take that responsibility very seriously.” 

“We aim to do everything we can to make a positive impact. 1 Cal is a building that focuses on creating a more sustainable future for our employees, tenants, and the community as a whole,” Desiderio continued.

In addition, the UL Solutions team also helped 1 Cal, which is a Rising Realty Partners building,  pursue the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark, ENERGY STAR certification, and Ventilation Assessments for Indoor Air Quality. 

“Rising has always been a sustainability-focused company,” Desiderio added. “Our team is always looking for ways to set ourselves apart. We’re constantly investing in our sustainability certifications and education for our staff and tenants, so these certifications and verifications are validation that we are accomplishing what we’ve set out to do.”

Collaborating to reach new heights

The UL Solutions team coordinated 1 Cal’s LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Platinum Renewal Certification, which awards points based on how sustainably the building is being operated and maintained. 

The LEED O+M Platinum Renewal Certification served as the main certification that worked in concert with other certifications and verifications that 1 Cal pursued, with many green building activities counting toward multiple certifications. 

By becoming Net Zero Energy and ENERGY STAR certified, 1 Cal received points toward its LEED O+M certification. Furthermore, by receiving the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark, 1 Cal also received points toward its LEED O+M certification for indoor environmental quality from air quality assessments that the UL Solutions performed. 

To achieve the LEED O+M certification, UL Solutions had to complete documentation that records how efficient water usage is, carbon emissions associated with transportation, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, waste management, recycling, green cleaning supplies use, and more.

The collaboration allowed UL Solutions and 1 Cal to make strides in sustainability together. 1 Cal became the first UL Solutions customer to achieve LEED Certified Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Carbon. 

As a result, 1 Cal became the second high rise in Los Angeles to achieve the Net Zero Energy certification and the first to achieve the Net Zero Carbon certification. 

Communication is vital to certification success

The key to achieving these certifications and verifications simultaneously was the UL Solutions team and Rising’s excellent communication. 

1 Cal pursued the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark to give building occupants confidence in the indoor air quality, which was important to tenant safety and peace of mind during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Being in property management, first and foremost, you want to ensure that your tenants are safe, and their wellbeing is prioritized,” said Desiderio. “Having the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark helps tenants to feel more comfortable knowing that [there is] testing and monitoring [is] being done regularly.”

Having UL Solutions help manage the LEED certification process is crucial, according to Desiderio. “If I had to do this all on my own, without the assistance of UL Solutions, I truly don’t know how that would happen. UL Solutions was instrumental in guiding us through this entire process.”

For more information on this case study, click here.