Four REITS get honored for their energy savvy.

The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recently honored four of its member companies for demonstrating superior and sustained energy use practices.

"Our 'Leader in the Light' award recognizes company-wide operations which generate substantially improved energy efficiency and expense management," explained NAREIT senior vice president for finance and operations Sheldon M. Groner.

This year's award recipients included:

Trizec Properties, Inc., which won the Gold Large Cap;

Glenborough Realty Trust, Inc., which won the Gold Small Cap;

Arden Realty, Inc., which won the Silver Cap;

Simon Property Group, which won the Bronze Cap.

A feature article in Real Estate Portfolio magazine found that many REITs have taken steps to mitigate rising energy costs and improve efficiency.

"It's apparent that better managing or reducing energy costs at properties can play a role in enhancing shareholder value," Groner said. "The companies we have singled out have implemented innovative and effective measures to improve portfolio-wide energy performance."

The "Leader in the Light" Awards were presented at a breakfast session during the NAREIT annual convention in Chicago.