14 February 2011 – A new US based report on the benefits of green office space has found that green building movement is growing and that the economic and environmental benefits have started to drive the decision-making by industry leaders.
The report Do Green Buildings Make Dollars & Sense?, from CB Richard Ellis in conjunction with the University of San Diego and McGraw-Hill Construction, is the second annual survey in the series. This year it focused on the attitudes and behavior from building occupants.
- CBRE global chief economist Raymond Torto and US national director of sustainability David Pogue discuss the findings in the following video clip here
Key findings from the report include:
- The green building market – both new and retrofit –is growing dramatically: 35 per cent of new construction in 2010
- Tangible business benefit – such as return on investment, occupancy and rent increases – from green are reported – and consistent over time
- Green building occupants are reporting higher productivity and health benefits
- LEED (green building rating system) is recognized in the market. Benchmarking measurement is a challenge, but recognised as critical to show real value. Energy efficiency in buildings is good business