White papers

Lack of data on eco-buildings ‘hinders investments’

http://cubeme.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ECO_Building_Igor_Davydov1.jpg

Straight from yesterday’s ENDS Europe Daily newsletter: The lack of data and metrics on green buildings to demonstrate their attractiveness to investors compared with conventional buildings fuels uncertainty over their profitability, a Deutsche Bank research paper has found.

The problem is particularly true in Europe, which has “yet to see a single major study demonstrating the financial performance premiums of green buildings,” according to the paper. All other major studies to date have focused on the US, the authors note.

There are also no harmonised standards for green buildings, they add. Definitions vary across regions and even within countries. This inhibits investments as investors “fear acquiring assets with green credentials that lack widespread market acceptance.”

The research paper also reviews national building regulations. It shows Scandinavian countries have the strictest rules. And it shows certification systems vary from a country to another. All the major ones do contain criteria on the efficient use of energy and water.

*The European Commission has announced the winners of its GreenBuilding initiative, which rewards green building projects in the EU. The 13 winners, from a pool of 286 participating buildings, come from eight countries and range from corporate and public projects, to new and refurbished buildings.

Deutsche Bank research paper
http://www.dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR_INTERNET_EN-PROD/PROD0000000000256216.pdf

and European Commission press release
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/424&format=HTML