The Leader - September/October 2008 - (Page 10) real estate I N the NeWs leeD standards to Be modified NeW versIoN to make Its DeBut IN earlY 2009 Green Building council set to modify leeD standards The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that it is changing its certification process for green buildings through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, according to the St. Louis Business Journal. The new version, dubbed LEED 2009, is set to debut in January 2009. Since the program was launched in 2000, more than 1,500 buildings have received LEED certification and more than 11,000 are now seeking it. Over the past eight years, the USGBC has changed the way architects, contractors and developers design and erect structures nationwide. Even buildings that do not pursue LEED certification are increasingly incorporating such sustainable practices as daylighting, non-polluting carpet and paint, and lowflow water fixtures and toilets. as office space shrinks, amenities Grow While break rooms and coffee bars still rank as the most common amenities, a new study by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) shows that employers are increasingly providing everything from on-site fitness facilities to Internet cafes to and outdoor recreation areas, reports the Christian Science Monitor. As employee workspace decreases, IFMA officials note that these amenities become more essential. Office space for middle managers, for instance, has shrunk from an average of 151 sq. ft. (14 sq. m.) in 1994 to 121 sq. ft. (11 sq. m.) last year – a nearly 20 percent decline. Employers are now tasked to attract and retain top talent while compensating for reduced space. London to become Europe’s second most expensive office location after rents there soared 46.2 percent in one year. NB Real Estate confirms that rental inflation in the Moscow office sector is partly being driven by the Russian commodities boom. There was very little new office development in Russia during the economic crisis of a decade ago. However, since the commodities boom started in 2002, domestic and foreign demand for office space in Moscow has skyrocketed. Europe Real Estate reports that London’s West End remains the priciest office district on the continent as rents there increased 22.7 percent in the second quarter. saving energy in small Buildings Small and medium-sized buildings are frequently regarded as the worst candidates for energy-efficient projects because facility executives feel that upgrades will either not improve or possibly hurt their bottom line. The Energy Information Administration’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey reports, however, that structures which are under 100,000 sq. ft. (9,290 sq. m.) comprise 98 percent of the building stock in this country, reports FacilitiesNet.com. Studying energy patterns and comparing a facility’s energy use with similar structures is the initial step toward finding ways to save. moscow leapfrogs city of london to Become second most expensive office location in europe A new study by NB Real Estate and ONCOR International shows that Moscow has surpassed the City of singapore property trust to lure Islamic Investors In an effort to lure more investment from the Middle East, Singapore’s Cambridge Industrial Trust is set to declare itself sharia compliant this month, Reuters reports. Because REITs pay most of their rent as dividends, their consistent yields can be a substitute for bonds for investors who eschew interest payments prohibited by Islam. To be sharia compliant, Cambridge’s properties cannot house businesses involved in alcohol, gambling or other “immoral activities.” 2 0 0 8 th e le aDe r 10 septemBer / octoBer http://www.FacilitiesNet.com
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