As more people place environmental awareness higher on their list of priorities, it's apparent that many facets of business can have a global impact in this area. Of all aspects of business, none are more important than real estate. Throughout the world, real estate is undergoing numerous transformations that place it at the forefront of this growing trend.
Commercial Real Estate
One of the biggest aspects of business strategy involves making commercial real estate more eco-friendly. Seen as being "good business" in today's climate, this new attitude is best demonstrated by the changing outlook of companies worldwide. In a recent survey, over 51 percent of companies felt it was their corporate responsibility to adopt eco-friendly real estate strategies. As a result, there are now more than 26,000 buildings around the world that are Energy Star rated, totaling 3.8 billion square feet.
Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
Along with commercial real estate, residential real estate has also undergone a shift in its views of the environment. Whereas homes of several decades ago were built with little regard to their impact on the environment, today's homes are anything but that. In fact, many of today's homes are built using recycled materials such as old tires or plastic containers. Along with this, homebuilders are working with engineers who have a master’s of science in civil engineering to produce homes better suited to withstand extreme weather as well as use less water or energy.
Green Buildings: A Sound Investment
As more companies make the preservation of natural resources a higher priority, the global impact of real estate continues to show itself in a number of ways. With more homeowners now looking to purchase homes that are eco-friendly, builders now use more and more innovative methods, including ventilation designs that incorporate sun and wind into keeping a home comfortable throughout the year. Commercial buildings, also looking to become more environmentally-friendly, have incorporated many of these same methods across the world. According to a survey of global directors of corporate responsibility, green buildings are well worth the investment for a number of reasons. These can include having lower energy and water costs, higher occupancy rates, lower tenant turnover, and a longer economic life.
By making it a high priority to create eco-friendly buildings, companies around the world have started to realize the many benefits that come with them. Whether it's increased sustainability or reducing energy costs, the global impact on the environment can indeed be substantial.
