Environmental

As a real estate finance company with fewer than 40 employees, the environmental impacts of our operations are relatively modest. We nonetheless strive to limit those impacts through responsible practices.

We lease the space for our two primary office locations in New York and Minnesota in buildings that have many features designed to conserve energy and water and reduce waste. Both buildings are equipped with energy management systems, LED lighting that is controlled by schedules or motion sensors, and low-flow toilets and sinks. The Minnesota building is Energy Star Certified, and both buildings have been certified as WELL Healthy and Safety Rated. The two buildings also facilitate low-energy commutes through their accessibility to mass transit and bike storage facilities.

We have also implemented environmentally responsible practices within our leased spaces to further reduce the impact of our office operations. Our computers and other electronic equipment are configured to use energy-saving sleep modes when not in use. We stock our kitchen spaces with eco-friendly supplies, and we have glass, metal, and plastic recycling receptacles throughout the office, kitchen, and meeting spaces. Filtered water is readily available to encourage the use of refillable containers instead of single-use water bottles. Finally, our flexible/hybrid work model saves energy and reduces emissions by decreasing the amount of commuting our employees do.

As part of our commitment to limiting the negative environmental impacts of our business operations, we have adopted an Environmental Policy. The policy is intended to promote environmentally responsible decision making and to educate our team members about sustainable business practices.

Our Environmental Policy applies to all officers and employees of our company and covers the following topics:

• Office Practices - When looking to lease office space for our operations, we will consider the environmentally friendly furnishings and features of potential buildings and their accessibility to mass transit and other low-impact commuting options. We will also follow energy-conservation and waste-reduction practices within those leased spaces, as described above.
• Business Travel - We encourage our officers and employees to consider attending off-site meetings and events remotely when practical. When team members will be traveling, we encourage them to adhere to the best practices outlined in the policy, which are designed to limit the negative environmental impact of business travel.
• Commuting - We also encourage our team members to reduce the negative environmental impact of their commutes from home to office by using fuel-efficient modes of transportation, including through the use of the buildings’ accessibility to mass transit, the buildings’ bike storage facilities, and the commuter benefits program offered by our company.