Veris Residential, which owns, operates, acquires and develops Class A multifamily properties throughout the state, announced Tuesday that Chief Operating Officer Anna Malhari has joined Gov. Phil Murphy’s Clean Buildings Working Group.
The working group, which is a collaboration between the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, aligns with the mission and vision of Veris, which views itself as a forward-thinking, environmentally and socially conscious real estate investment trust.
(Veris’ board currently is reviewing an acquisition attempt by Kushner Cos.)
The working group was created to support Murphy’s climate action agenda, which has set goals of achieving a 100% clean energy state economy and reducing emissions by 80% (from 2006 levels) by 2050.
As a member of the working group, Malhari will work with other local business leaders and experts across government, building science, organized labor, environmental justice and workforce development, including the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Community Affairs, Economic Development Authority and Department of the Treasury, to help the state reach its stated goals.
Specifically, the working group’s aim is to develop pathways to greener, cleaner buildings in New Jersey through the adoption of energy efficiency improvements and emissions reduction upgrades.
Malhari’s appointment to the working group comes as Veris Residential earned a 5 Star rating for its performance in the 2022 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, which is the highest rating offered by GRESB for distinguished environmental, social & governance leadership and performance.
The GRESB 5 Star rating recognized Veris Residential for achieving a score among the highest 20% of all 1,820 participant companies’ scores in the 2022 Real Estate Assessment worldwide.
“As a proud resident of New Jersey, it is an honor to join Gov. Murphy’s Clean Buildings Working Group alongside likeminded New Jersey leaders that share our goal of decarbonizing the built sector,” Malhari said. “At Veris Residential, sustainability is a lens through which we view every decision, every day at both the corporate and property level.
“I look forward to widening that lens and working with existing members of the working group to implement innovative solutions that not only help New Jersey reach emissions reduction and clean energy targets, but also promote a more resilient world.”
