Breaking the Vicious Circle of Blame - Making the Business Case for Sustainable Buildings

Buildings and the work in constructing them are probably the largest contributor to global resource use and pollution emissions. Consequently, the potential contribution of buildings and of the property and construction sector to sustainable development is immense. So, why are so few sustainable buildings being designed, built or retrofitted? Why is sustainable property investment and management not yet mainstream? What are the drivers of this process and what are the barriers? Does sustainable property investment really pay off or are property investors simply doing it to show their green credentials? Are consumers sufficiently informed about the respective merits of the options open to them, and do they actually value “sustainability” as an attribute when making property related decisions?