Expert: companies want green premises

29 September 2011

Written by Steve Olejnik

Companies are increasingly interested in the sustainability of their premises, according to one expert.

Knight Frank commercial research team partner Darren Yates claimed this is partially due to the "cost issue", or the savings on fuel bills that can be made through occupying energy efficient buildings.

Further considerations include the environment, with regulations soon to be enacted to ensure real estate is ecologically considerate, he continued.

The expert explained consumers also wish to purchase goods and services from businesses that demonstrate green awareness.

Mr Yates added that legislation is "coming in which is forcing builders to become more environmentally friendly".

The biggest driver for sustainable premises in the UK comes from commercial occupiers because responsibility and green issues are growing in importance for corporations, a recent report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found.

It noted that the UK's property sector is currently performing worse than all other European countries in its uptake of sustainable practices.