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The first quarterly newsletter of 2007 highlights some outstanding facts presented in the "Green Building Market Report 2006' compiled by Building and Construction Interchange Australia (BCI) and the Green Building Council Australia.
The building and construction interchange in association with the green building council Australia have published a survey of the green building market in Australia.
This survey has highlighted a number of thought provoking results, and addresses a number of issues from different perspectives.
Key points
- 84% of architects, contractors and building owners have been involved in green building.
- 63% of firms describe their commitment to green building as high or very high.
- Over 50% of Australian architects and contractors see sales associated with green building on the rise.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests that the main positive impact of green building may be staff efficiency! With “the focus firmly on health and wellbeing with greenhouse emissions as a given”.
- Over 70% see “being part of an industry that values the environment as a key reason for being involved in green building”.
Building owners motives for green building involvement largely mirror those of their industry peers: however, they quote “benefit from publicity”, triple bottom line reporting” and “higher ROI on resale” significantly more often as green building motives than the professions involved in the actual building process.
Business reasons for building green
By a significant margin “lower operating costs” is the most important business reason for getting involved in green. With lower lifetime costs, higher building value and enhanced marketing value the other significant reasons.
Environmental reasons for green building
Protection of the environment, reducing climate change and emissions and minimizing the ecological impact of buildings were the top three. Another highly ranked motive is “improving indoor environment quality”.
The report was clear that the building community does not acknowledge a general “moral imperative of green” per se.
Societal reasons
The overwhelmingly dominant motive was “greater health and wellbeing” with tenant productivity also ranking highly.
The first step to "Build Green" is currently driven by the client’s request to do. With the key triggers being rising energy costs, lower lifecycle costs, owner’s and tenants demands.
The single biggest obstacle is the perception that green building goes hand in hand with higher up front costs. This impression is deeply ingrained irrespective of studies that indicate the contrary.
The lack of information on green products, green projects and market trends are also consistent themes.
[ The complete report is available on the BCI website here ]
[ More information about sustainable building products is available on our website here
]
In February Better Homes and Gardens will be airing their latest refurb of a unit in Rose Bay. After viewing a number of supplier’s bamboo flooring they decided to use our compressed string board... “it had the best quality of finish and terrific depth of colour”.
Our installers were called on to remove the previous floor covering, prep the floor as well as undercut all the skirting to ensure the finished product did justice to the property. If you get to see this episode Wednesday February 21st 2007, we are sure you too will be impressed.
The refurb will also be featured in their February magazine as well as on line after the show airs.
[ More information about sustainable building products is available on our website here
]
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