MGZA

We were early specifiers of eco-friendly products and manufacturers who embraced sustainabiity. Mary Severino was the first LEED-accredited professional in the State of Delaware. We lead by our actions, and not just by words.

 

Although today, sustainability might mean keeping a job, staying in business and maintaining a family, the classic definition includes the conscious design of the TOTAL environment.

 

According to Andrew J. Nelson, Vice President RREEF Research, buildings are a fundamental impact on people’s lives and the health of the planet. In the US, buildings use almost one half of our total energy. (RREEF Research White Paper Number 64, September 2008)

 

Industry sources, including the USBC and the US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, tell us that global factors are now impacting Real Estate Trends toward sustainability. Factors include: global awareness of climate change, acceptance abroad of ‘green-only’ construction, foreign investment in U.S. real estate, and ultimately, favorable returns for green building and sustainable practice.

 

In Andrew Nelson’s assessment of Globalization and Global Trends in Green Real Estate Investment, he noted that “tenant space requirements, government regulations, and demands for socially-responsible investments are among the issues driving a rapid transformation of property markets globally to greener construction and building operations.”

 

In short, the trend is to incorporate ‘sustainable’ into all areas of building procurement, leasing, design and construction.

 

In the past, arguments against building “Green” usually focused upon the costs associated with the program. Initial costs for a project that is designated as a LEED project will generally be higher than a conventional project. As Greg Kats noted in his 2003 white paper on “Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits,” the construction industry has been a relatively static sector of the economy, slow to change and slow to accept new methodologies.

Environmental factors except for code requirements were not considered a major factor in the determination of a building or an interior design statement. Global influence and, increasingly, tenant demand for healthy environments for work places have influenced the trend and the industry significantly. Differentiators for the evaluation of buildings include:

 

Image and Good Will: Sustainability matters to customers. Companies are growing in their demand for sustainable buildings and interiors so as to stand out to consumers. Sectors of the industry most impacted are corporate facilities, businesses with direct consumer contact such as banks, retailers and hotels, and other public facilities that see this image as boosting the bottom line.

 

Employee Attraction and Retention: Younger workers in particular, especially highly valued creative and knowledge workers will evaluate an employer by their overall sensitivity to the environment.

 

Cost Savings and Personnel Benefits: Energy savings for buildings incorporating sustainable practice can run up to 30% higher than conventional. The cost savings in personnel churn have proven to be very significant. With the cost of personnel, absenteeism and churn can represent significant percentages of a company’s overall costs.

 

The cost for sustainability, particularly relative to interior fit-out, is actually now a non-issue. The market has caught up with the movement to ‘green.’ At this time, well-known suppliers for carpets, fabrics, paints, windows, doors, and many other common products and materials are supplying stock that meets LEED criteria. In fact, professionals with knowledge and intent will specify healthy materials and products that represent no impact on the bottom line at all.