On December 2, 2011, President Obama and Former President Bill Clinton, announced the Better Buildings Challenge, a $4 billion initiative to improve the energy efficiency of government and private-sector buildings. The challenge aims to improve energy performance 20% by 2020 with the cost being supplied by the federal government and a coalition of corporations, labor unions, universities and local governments. 

Among those present during the event was JDM Principal, Deborah Cloutier, who stood with other commercial real estate professionals as the announcement was made. Prior to the press conference, President Obama and Clinton were given a tour of 815 Connecticut, a Transwestern managed building located in Washington, DC, to see first-hand the energy upgrades made at the property.

JDM has assisted Transwestern in their development of identifying and implementing energy efficiency and sustainability upgrades throughout their portfolio.