RICS Global Property Sustainability Survey, Q3 2009
HONG KONG, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The attempt to raise profitability remains the key factor driving the interest in sustainable buildings globally; but the US is still not placing as much importance on the issue as other markets, according to the latest Global Property Sustainability Survey, released by RICS today.
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Overall the majority of surveyors believe their clients place a level of importance on sustainability issues, with only 7 percent of respondents seeing it as not important. Germany, Brazil and China place the greatest importance on sustainability; however it is respondents in the US, which were the least positive, with 13 percent of respondents seeing environmental issues as not important at all, whilst only 9 percent saw it as very important.
Russia, the UAE, India and Spain were the only other countries where a percentage of surveyors felt that sustainability was not important to their clients, however in these instances the negative responses were outweighed by those placing greater importance on the issues.
In the UK over three quarters of respondents felt that sustainability was of importance to their clients, however none of them felt particularly strongly about it, indicating that more needs to be done to convince people of the benefits of green buildings.
Overall it is profitability that is driving the push towards more sustainable buildings with 38 percent of respondents globally citing this. In the UK 57 percent of surveyors feel that it is business bottom line that is driving the sustainability agenda, with marketing purposes (29 percent) and competitive advantage (14 percent) also cited.
Commenting, Ursula Hartenberger, Global Head of Sustainability Policy, said:
"Considering the depth of the current downturn it is encouraging to see that so many countries are still placing a level of importance on sustainability. The fact that this is being driven by clients wanting to improve their bottom line shows that the economic argument for energy efficiency and green buildings may be growing in strength.
It is worrying that some countries still seem slightly indifferent to the issues, and particularly with the Copenhagen summit on climate change coming up next month, it is a concern that the US still does not appear as on board as other major economies."
Mr Henry Li, Chairman of RICS China, said: "The third quarter RICS Global Commercial Property Sustainability Survey shows energy efficiency is the most important sustainability issue and air/water pollution is the second most important sustainability issue for clients of surveying firms in China, which is a good indicator to the government in setting the policy and law to solve environmental problems. The Chinese government is now developing a draft amendment to the law on conserving energy, which details measures to avoid energy waste in different sectors to improve energy efficiency and cut pollution emissions."
If you would like to download the full report, please click on the following link:
http://www.ricsasia.org/newsDetail.php?id=124
About RICS & RICS Asia
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is the mark of property professionalism worldwide. It covers all aspects of property, construction and associated environmental issues. RICS has 140,000 members globally and represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 122 countries.
The RICS Asia supports a network of over 11,000 individual professionals across the Asia Pacific region with an objective to help develop the property and construction markets in these countries, by introducing professional standards, best practice and international experience. It promotes RICS and its members as the natural advisors on all property matters. It also ensures that services and career development opportunities are provided to members.
The RICS Asia region covers national associations and local groups locating in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The People's Republic of China and the SAR Hong Kong. It also has members working across the region such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos PDR, Macao, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, The Maldives, The Philippines, Timor East and Vietnam. For more information, please visit: http://www.ricsasia.org .
Media enquiry, please contact:
RICS Asia Public Relations Representative
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Email: belinda@creativegp.com / may@creativegp.com