A recently released 2018 study by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) finds that high-performance buildings save energy, save water, cost less to operate, produce less waste, and have more satisfied occupants compared with typical buildings. In short, they reduce operating costs and increase tenant satisfaction.
Net Zero and Science Based Targets- Connecting the Dots
I was recently asked how Science Based Targets are connected to Zero Carbon Buildings – hmmm, I thought, interesting question. Let’s start with the definitions.
With rising energy bills a concern for any tenant, the ability to generate more income through living in a zero-energy home can offset any worries about investing on a smart design. Financing such a project is the trickiest part but it has now been proven that the benefits and returns provide a viable and […]
There is a lot of focus on “net zero carbon” or “net carbon neutral” or similar in the sustainability world. This is mainly a corporate or building issue with most companies wanted to make an effort to eliminate their CO2 emissions and therefore their contribution to man-made climate change.
The 2019 event will take place March 19 and 20 in the Netherlands. Mark your calendars: Greenbuild Europe 2019 will take place March 19–20 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Preconference workshops will be held March 18. Greenbuild Europe is the premier annual conference for European green building professionals. Attendees worldwide across a variety of industries—including architecture, engineering and […]
Can the ‘Net Zero’ Concept Be Applied to Health and Wellbeing?
‘Net zero’ buildings are highly energy-efficient buildings that use on or off-site renewable energy to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Can the concept of ‘net zero’ by adapted for the health and wellbeing agenda? Well, I think so and here’s why…
evolv1 becomes Canada’s first Zero Carbon Building – Design certified project
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has awarded Canada’s first-ever Zero Carbon Building – Design certification under the Zero Carbon Building Standard to the uniquely modern evolv1 urban office building in Waterloo, Ontario.
World GBC wants to “advance net zero”, whilst the amended Energy Performance of Buildings Directive published last month in OJEU affirms that all new buildings must be “nearly zero energy” by the end of 2020 and GRESB insights this month is dedicated to “Net neutral buildings”! What on Earth do all these labels mean? This article […]
Sustainable Cities: GHG Emissions Inventories as a First Step Towards a Successful Green Economy
Our world continues to become increasingly urban. From the 19th century growth of European and North American cities, to the explosive population increase during the 1950s in cities like Tokyo and Mexico City, to the current expansion of cities in China and Sub-Saharan Africa, cities have been –and continue to be– global engines for innovation […]
Scaling Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
In 2017 the U.S. experienced devastating storms, fires, and hurricanes that caused over $358 Billion in damages. And for countries and communities around the world, they continue to be impacted by climate change as weather patterns become unpredictable.
With this Triango project, Bopro Sustainable Investments (BSI) has obtained the right to develop 15 ha of the Triangle de Gonesse. From now on we belong – as a Belgian company – to the development team of the ‘Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris’ project. ‘Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris’, the biggest European contest […]
With the ever-rising demand to build more homes and create more communities, are we in danger of creating socially dysfunctional environments? Health and social aspects of sustainability have now the same weight as the environmental aspects when it comes to building new cities and communities. On the other hand, recent years have seen a rise […]
Sustainable cities and the role of regional green building programs
In many cities, buildings are responsible for a majority of the city’s overall carbon emissions. For this reason, low-carbon buildings will be an essential component for the development of sustainable cities. Effectively reducing building emissions will require a combination of advancements in low-carbon energy systems technology and initiatives to reduce building-related energy use in both […]
Sustainable cities: innovative “hubs” and battlefields against negative change
Only ten years ago, knowing about sustainability meant that you might have accidentally read a piece of avant-garde research, speculating about harmful changes in our climate. In the blink of an eye, sustainability has gained wider momentum, and today has established itself as a global goal for our future and that of our planet. However, […]
CBRE has a strong commitment to incorporate sustainability principles into all aspects of the business. Our Sustainability team works closely with our Asset Services arm, which manages more than 1500 properties across the Pacific region, to achieve highly effective sustainability solutions for businesses across Australia, and thereby contributing to sustainable cities.
What makes a city smart and sustainable? Denkstatt recently tried to answer this question – both in theory by developing a new position paper on smart cities together with stakeholders from the real estate and urban development sectors and in practice by integrating sustainability in a district development project in the Austrian city Amstetten. A […]
Analysis of physical risks related to climate change for Gecina’s real estate office portfolio
Why adaptation to climate change matters to lower the value at risk Buildings, designed to be managed over several decades, are particularly exposed to evolving climate hazards, particularly extreme hazards: heat waves, floods, intense rainfall, storms. Impacts on Gecina’s activity can be physical (damage to the structure or the technical equipment) or functional (deterioration of […]
Leadership on Resilience from the GRESB Sustainable Real Asset Conference in Washington, DC
The GRESB Sustainable Real Asset Conference in Washington, DC was full of exceptional speakers. We learned about cutting-edge approaches to estimating physical hazards, engaged investment strategy, and innovations in rating systems. Critically, we also learned about on-the-ground leadership from property companies. We would love to share all of these thoughts and experiences with a broader […]