A new study by the University of California Energy Institute (UCEI) reveals that among the organizations that are most likely to lease space in green buildings are those whose industry sector is not the greenest.
“Why Do Companies Rent Green? Real Property and Corporate Social Responsibility” presents the findings of a study of 1,180 green office buildings and their 3,179 largest tenants. The study found that the industries with the greatest preference for leasing green space were firms with environmentally-sensitive operations, such as the Crude Petroleum & Gas industry, where more than 60% of space leased is in green buildings. The reason is that these types of organizations are accustomed to incorporating sustainability in strategic decisions, including real estate leasing decisions, because they put a higher value on the benefits of sustainability, possibly in terms of direct energy efficiency cost savings, but more likely the reputational benefits of being seen to take a sustainable course of action. Read more…
Another blog on environment and sustainability? You are probably thinking, “More information – just what I don’t need”.
We couldn’t agree more.
Those of us who work on energy and environment issues, especially here in California, face a relentless barrage of research results, news stories, technology bulletins, and government announcements. Between the universities, the NGO’s and think tanks, the private consulting companies and the various levels of governments, it seems like hardly a day goes by without a “major new report” on climate change, water or some aspect of sustainability.
We in the “sustainability industry” work in a blizzard of information. But blizzards have a tendency to reduce visibility, and information blizzards are no different in that regard. In the midst of all this information, are we making progress toward sustainability? Are we seeing the patterns in the data that will help us make the dramatic changes needed in our energy and water consumption that the goal of sustainability demands, and make them soon enough to avoid the worst consequences of our present course? Are we identifying in the “white noise” of climate change responses the public policy and business strategies that can take our sustainability efforts to the next level? Are we learning?
When it comes to sustainability and environmental issues, the rest of the nation looks to California for ideas and leadership, but where does California turn? What we might call the first generation of sustainability and climate change response strategies is further developed here than anywhere else in America. From carbon markets to automobile fuel efficiency standards, from energy and water efficiency programs to renewable energy business ventures, California has been at the forefront of institutional, policy and business innovation for sustainability. Read more…
