by Shane Henson — December 16, 2013—Real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield recently announced findings from its US Investor Survey — Sustainable Real Estate, a survey of property owners and investors undertaken to determine how sustainability affects their investment decisions in the commercial office sector.
As Cushman & Wakefield notes, today’s leading occupiers realize that environmental responsibility is not only essential to business operations, but can also enhance a corporation’s brand and customer appeal. The survey results provide insight into what owners are doing about sustainability and how they are adjusting their business practices in today’s environmentally conscious culture.
Findings from the survey include that investors are demanding real estate managers address sustainability in evaluating new investments, with 72 percent of those surveyed stating they have established policies at the fund level. Respondents also perceived sustainability performance to have a positive correlation to value.
The ability of a property to deliver energy efficiency to tenants ranked highest out of 14 factors in contributing the most value to an asset. While value varies from market to market, sustainability’s impact can be significant in making a property more competitive and assisting in a more rapid lease-up, says Cushman & Wakefield.
