Having the property industry adopt the green agenda sounds like a strategy for gentler economic times, something more suited for an era of plenty, philanthropy and PR.

But in the cold light of recession, enlightened developers and occupiers alike see that eco efficiency in commercial buildings isn’t just desirable in an ideal world. It can contribute to the bottom line, and anything that can do that will always get director level attention, especially in a recession. Philanthropic it’s not.

So, while other areas of “socially responsible” business may be at risk in boardrooms in the current cost cutting frenzy, sustainable buildings are still on the radar and glowing greener than ever.

At Blueprint, we’ve worked hard to play a part in pushing sustainable building and green design in Nottingham. Our multi-award-winning No.1 Nottingham Science Park has become a design and eco icon, not just in the city but in the property industry nationwide, with its sustainable building materials, low energy cooling system, biomass heating, sustainable urban drainage system, undercroft parking and publically accessible wetland habitat.

It’s an investment that’s working for us. Thanks to No.1 Nottingham Science Park prudent, forward thinking firms who see the benefits of low energy, low cost property solutions can move straight into new sustainable commercial space where the hard work has already been done for them (and the investment paid for). At No.1 Nottingham Science Park, they’ll immediately benefit from significant energy savings even compared with a newly built building regulations compliant office building. That’s a help to anyone’s bottom line.

But the commercial benefits – both for developer and occupier - potentially go much further.

As new legislation comes in, going green will become less an option, more an obligation. With commercial property responsible for around a fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions, it is a sector that will get a lot of attention as Government seeks to ensure the UK meets its carbon reduction targets. Government will use a combination of regulation and financial incentives to encourage business to adopt green strategies. There will be opportunity here; so-called “green collar” jobs will be created by Government as a central pillar of its strategy to get Britain out of recession, and this will undoubtedly open up opportunities for investment in sustainable property.

For occupiers, there are opportunities beyond energy savings to encourage investment in sustainable commercial properties.

The first key benefit is in marketing. Many firms have products and services that have a “green” story, and that will be backed up with more customer appeal by being located in a sustainable building. For example, No.1 Nottingham Science Park tenants 4energy produce carbon cutting cooling technology for electronic equipment.  Being in a green building is a good ‘fit’ with their message.  Many suppliers of major retailers and the public sector are now being required to show evidence of their sustainable approach to business, and a “green” location gives the supplier a level of credence above its competitor in conventional accommodation. A sustainable location, particularly one like No.1 Nottingham Science Park with its wooden boardwalk and open spaces, also has obvious recruitment benefits with the new generation of green aware employees.

Understandably, some observers still question whether the sustainable agenda can survive in a recession. But this view is usually based on a quite common misperception that being green costs more at the outset (and it ain’t necessarily so), and that any investment made cannot be offset by higher rents. But that’s not our experience at Blueprint.  We think that sustainable buildings will let quicker than their non-sustainable, non-differenciated counterparts, and increasingly command premium rents (this latter point was backed up by a a recent survey by Taylor Wessing in which 87 per cent of end users said corporate occupiers would pay more for space in a sustainable building).

Recession or not, sustainability is, and will be increasingly, a core business issue.

For further Media Information contact Duncan Hopwood at hopwood public relations
On 0116 254 4472 Email duncan@hopwood.co.uk