Many people are taking steps to "go green" in their home and personal lives. It has become routine to recycle and choose "green" cleaning products for the home, maybe even drive a hybrid vehicle. But often times these same people aren't able to be as eco-conscious in their professional lives. With an increasing demand for environmentally responsible products and services for consumers, it is natural that the green-friendly trend would extend into the workplace.

With an estimated ROI of less than two years, the parking garage lighting retrofit completed by Zimmer for one of its corporate clients was a really bright idea. The trend is retrofitting existing building lighting by replacing or updating existing with newer, more energy efficient options.  Zimmer has completed several similar retrofits for other local owners and the trend is catching on with property owners around the country.

This past fall, two of Zimmer's building engineers completed a lighting retrofit in one client's parking garage. Prior to the retrofit, the garage lights remained on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The garage also lacked enough emergency lighting.

For real estate lenders there is one dreaded "F" word - foreclosure. In just the first quarter of 2011, Zimmer has assumed management for three properties that have faced foreclosure. Needing to act quickly, Zimmer has relied on its proven systems to help lenders stabilize their assets to reduce further loss, determine an appropriate plan of action, and develop a strategy to create additional value.

With the complications that often come with taking over a foreclosed asset, Zimmer staff sees the benefit of banks outsourcing to a team of real estate professionals that can draw upon its expertise in the sale and leasing, management and financial accounting of real estate

"One of the biggest benefits we offer is the ability to immediately implement a plan for ongoing operations and represent the new owner to the tenants and vendors," said Ellen Darling, Executive Vice President and Director of Property Management. "We have the experience and systems in place to respond to the needs of our clients, seeing both the big picture and dealing with the day-to-day minutia."