The Leader - September 2007 - (Page 42) t r e a dI NG lIGh tly: h oW pr oper ty It sys te ms caN he lp o rG aNI zatI o Ns re trace the I r carbo N f o o t p rINt s Buildings now account for around 40 percent of total energy consumption in the European Union (EU), with commercial buildings representing nearly half of that amount. In 2006, more than 2.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions came from buildings – compared with 1.8 million metric tons emitted by transportation and 1.6 million metric tons generated by industry. Against this backdrop, there are mounting regulatory pressures – such as the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Green taxes are also increasingly on the horizon. So establishing a carbon-friendly footprint makes sense – if only to show legislators that the property industry can police itself. At the same time, concerns about spiraling energy costs and security of energy supply are also pushing the issue of property operating costs further up the business agenda. Energy efficiency is becoming a key cost control issue – and therefore a much more important factor in tenants’ choice of property. Research released in 2006 by Gensler – a leading international design, planning, and strategic consulting firm – revealed that 75 percent of U.K. property developers believe that legislation to grade the energy efficiency of buildings – in response to the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – will have a negative impact on the value and transferability of inefficient buildings in the future. While most people think of climate change as a threat, others see it as an opportunity for business as well. With CFP such a hot topic in the media in terms of moral obligation and sustainability for the future, being seen to be doing ‘the right thing’ can be a strong marketing tool for property investors and landlords. Choosing to reduce their carbon footprint and provide a ‘green’ option to tenants may help them to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. Tenants may feel more comfortable in the knowledge that their landlord is taking steps to help them meet their CFP targets. This may help owners and investors to retain ‘customer loyalty’ if tenants choose to remain in their buildings instead of moving to competitors who perhaps don’t appear to have the environment at heart. Owners and occupiers can help to reduce their CFP by introducing conservation measures at the staff and office level – such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, regulating temperature settings for heating and cooling, installing time-limiters for lighting, replacing inefficient plant, and installing building management systems to control heating and cooling systems. th e le ade r 42 september / october 2007 http://www.rivcoeda.org http://www.rivcoeda.org
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