More Eco-Sensitive Homes
Speakers at a seminar in late March, sponsored by the Urban Land Institute, the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors and the Real Estate Council, said a shift in attitudes toward eco-sensitive real estate is happening, according to an article published by the Dallas Morning News.
In fact, a recent report by Ernst & Young, a global network of accounting analysts with offices around the world, finds that there is almost a 4 percent occupancy increase in buildings design using environmental and energy-efficient construction practices.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Texas construction industry observers also are noting a shift in attitude toward more eco-friendly, smart building. The newspaper quoted Dallas Developer Jack Matthews saying, “We basically have to look at every single decision made about in that building. We spent 10 hours in the last month looking at the laundry alone.”
Even accounting giant Ernst & Young is jumping on the smarter building bandwagon–more than half of the 6.1 million square feet Ernst Young occupies in the U.S. has energy savings ratings, Judy Barth Bowles, a director of real estate services with Ernst & Young, told the Idaho Statesman Journal.
“We’ve looked at everything to maximize the dollars we spend,” Bowles said. “”We are very cognizant of the energy consumption. Landlords (also) are very interested, and we give them the push.”
The complete text of the Ernest & Young study, “The business case for climate change: choosing the right path” is available online here
REFERENCES
Developers find green building is ‘good business’ (Dallas Morning News)
Developers say Green Buildings have big appeal
RESOURCES
Ernst & Young
