It turns out the Kermit the Frog was wrong; it IS easy being green.
Just ask Elaine Worzala.
Elaine Worzala
As director of the Carter Real Estate Center and professor of real estate at the College of Charleston School of Business, Worzala recently worked on research that could help to address sustainability issues in the commercial real estate industry.
“Over the last few years I have been working in the area of climate change and sustainability and how the real estate professionals can help reduce carbon emissions by making their buildings more energy efficient,” says Worzala.
The research is not only helping in new construction projects, but also in existing buildings. She says developers and landlords are now realizing that green building initiatives could produce a greener bottom line for businesses.
Read: more about Elaine Worzala’s research on Green Real Estate
“Over the last 10 years the regulations have changed to encompass green building initiatives,” says Worzala. “The demand for green buildings has also increased as major tenants are requiring green buildings as part of the corporate social responsibility pledges. It is a very good way to significantly reduce your carbon footprint by requiring LEED certified space. Also, there is a bit of a bidding war on who can be the greenest. “
However the green movement has not been as strong here in the United States as in other countries.
“We are trailing other countries when it comes to embracing this change. UK, Europe and Australia are all more advanced in the regulations as well as the tenant demand side,” says Worzala. “They have been creating green buildings for a lot longer and they are now beginning to rate buildings so tenants know in advance what the utility usage is like and how green the buildings are. The United States will be heading this way. New York City and the State of California are leading the way here in the States.”
