When green trumps greed

In recent weeks we've seen the world's financial markets in crisis, talk of a global recession, stocks tumbling, house prices collapsing, a retail sector slump and a wave of pessimism across Australia's economy.

It would be easy, as a result, to be gloomy about the prospects of our nation's green building industry. We've already heard people talking about how we simply cannot afford to focus on energy efficiency, low carbon and green building when financial concerns loom so large.

Now is not the time to step back from our commitment to sustainability. Now is the time to work harder to ensure that green building remains high on the national agenda. As Nicholas Stern said last week, "now is the time to lay the foundations for a world of low-carbon growth."

Stern went on to say that there are two crucial lessons we must learn from the financial turbulence the world has been facing. "First, this crisis has been 20 years in the making and shows very clearly that the longer risk is ignored the bigger will be the consequences; second, we shall face an extended period of recession in the rich countries and low growth for the world as a whole. Let us learn the lessons and take the opportunity of the coincidence of the crisis and the deepening awareness of the great danger of unmanaged climate change."

Rick Fedrizzi, CEO, President and Founding Chair of the US Green Building Council said last week in an open letter to members that "the greed that led the world economy into crisis will not defeat our commitment to good work. Fear will not dominate our agenda. And our commitment to change - even in the face of so great a challenge - will not waver.

"Change doesn't wait on Washington. And it doesn't depend on Wall Street. Change comes from within. The green building movement has been demonstrating that fact for more than 15 years. Before there was a single government green building policy, before the business community stood up and took notice - there was you."

Now is the time to remind your colleagues, clients and competitors that green buildings don't just make sound ecological and environmental sense - they make sound economic sense too.

At SB08 recently, the Green Building Council of Australia released The Dollars & Sense of Green Building 2008, which confirmed that green buildings consume less energy, less water and generate less waste, and create a healthy and productive environment for employees.

Green building practices can reduce a building's operating costs by as much as 9 per cent, increase building values by 7.5 per cent and realise a 6.6 per cent increase in return on investment. What's more, going green can increase occupancy ratios by 3.5 per cent and rent ratios by 3 per cent, as well as increase worker productivity by as much as 10.9 per cent.

Green buildings will save money. They will save energy. They will help save our planet. And they will create good, green, local jobs. As just one example, a report released in June 2008 used the latest CSIRO modelling to predict that more than 251,500 'green collar' jobs will be created in Australia's property and construction industry by 2025 - that's 45 per cent of the total number of new jobs, providing new opportunities and employment for many Australians.

We cannot lose sight of our mission to develop a sustainable property industry for Australia. Now is the time for every one of our 615 member organisations, our 2,800 Green Star Accredited Professionals and our 11,000 Green Star trained advocates to work together to deploy the expertise and capacity we've already created to impel the green building movement forward. Let's work together to ensure that green trumps greed.

Romilly Madew
Chief Executive
Green Building Council of Australia

Contact:
Lisa Heinze
Marketing Manager
Green Building Council of Australia
Phone: 02 8239 6208
Mobile: 0421 923 079
Email: lisa.heinze@gbca.org.au