GreenBuild Blog
Corporate Sustainability / Green Business Practices
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Global Green Building Rating System Promoted by Large Property Owners
The recent article in Europe’s Property Week magazine says that the companies involved include AXA Real Estate Investment Management, GE Real Estate and ING Real Estate. The scheme is simply called “Green Rating” and will look at energy use, carbon emissions, water use, waste generation, health and location close to public transport. The scheme was launched in Spain last month and is expected to roll out this year in Germany, France, The Netherlands and Italy. A 2010 launch is planned in the US and Japan. Prediction: it’s going to be hard to get traction in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan and Germany because of well established domestic rating systems. For example, in the US, more than 20,000 properties are pursuing LEED right now, including 2,500 existing buildings, and there are more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals. It’s hard to dislodge this large base of support. The Green Rating system also appears to lack the truly independent third-party certification that is the primary appeal of the established rating systems, as is the broad base of stakeholders involved in developing each country’s rating system. While the companies promoting the plan are important players, they are by no means the largest property managers and owners, even in their respective countries or spheres of operation. Nevertheless, a better way to look at this new system is that it indicates what I’ve been saying all along: the business case for green buildings is so solid that property owners and managers who don’t green existing properties are going to be at a competitive disadvantage in the next few years.
Posted by Jerry on 06/11/2009 at 08:56 AM
This entry has been viewed 279 times.
Corporate Sustainability / Green Business Practices • (0) Comments • PermalinkSaturday, June 06, 2009
Sustainability Focus Makes You Money, Says New Report
In its latest sustainability report, How We Do Business, Marks & Spencer (M&S) says that in January 2007 it was prepared to invest £200m (over $300 million) during the next five years to implement its 2005 sustainability plan, Plan A, but cost savings made on climate change and waste reduction initiatives have already made it cash-flow positive. M&S says that 39 of the 100 commitments under Plan A have been completed and 24 of the 100 targets have been raised.
The decision to charge 5p for single-use grocery bags has cut the use of the bags by 83% (almost 400 million bags) - the £1.2m (about $2 million) profit generated from the charge has gone to the environmental charity Groundwork. Overall waste diversion rates to landfill are up to 41 percent, while carbon emissions have been cut 18 percent since the 2006-2007 baseline year. Energy use is down 10 percent, even while total store area is up 10 percent, for a roughly 20 percent reduction in energy use per square foot.
Posted by Jerry on 06/06/2009 at 04:46 PM
This entry has been viewed 217 times.
Corporate Sustainability / Green Business Practices • (0) Comments • PermalinkThursday, May 21, 2009
McDonalds Global Best of Green 2009 Report Sets a High Standard
The report lists sustainability projects and best practices in 10 categories: energy, packaging, anti-littering, recycling, logistics communications, greening the restaurants, greening the workplace, sustainable food and supplier leadership. Slow food activists may not like Mickey D’s, but they’re here to stay, and it’s good they’re trying to do the right thing.
Posted by Jerry on 05/21/2009 at 09:09 AM
This entry has been viewed 219 times.
Corporate Sustainability / Green Business Practices • (0) Comments • PermalinkMonday, February 23, 2009
Carbon Dioxide Regulation Inches Closer
The Journal’s report that EPA will soon begin rule-making on carbon emissions should be enough to spur Congress into action. This effort will be the mother of all environmental battles and one with huge economic outcomes (and they’re not good) if the legislators get it wrong. Watch for carbon-dioxide legislation to emerge over the next year as the key battle for a green future, one likely to become a major political issue in the 2010 mid-term elections. Means and methods count huge in the carbon regulation business and there’s no real agreement on them at this time.
Posted by Jerry on 02/23/2009 at 07:43 PM
This entry has been viewed 283 times.
Corporate Sustainability / Green Business Practices • (0) Comments • PermalinkPage 1 of 4 pages 1 2 3 > Last »
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