Search news
First global environmental benchmark for property sector launched
28 January 2010
A major report on the environmental performance of the commercial real estate sector is published today by three large European institutional investors - APG, PGGM, and the Universities Superannuation Scheme, together with some of the major real estate industry bodies. The report is based on a global survey of 700 listed property companies and fund managers, and was carried out by the European Centre for Corporate (ECCE) Engagement at Maastricht University. It reveals that, despite the fact that energy-saving investments can create value for property investors; the majority of survey participants are not yet actively managing environmental issues in their portfolios. Only a few investors from Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom come close to attaining the top score in the global “Environmental Real Estate Index”. These best practice property investors should serve as examples for others in the industry.
This research has resulted in a new environmental benchmark, the global 'Environmental Real Estate Index', which includes scores on environmental management practices and on the implementation of these practices. By using information contained in the index, institutional investors can compare the environmental score of individual property investments with their environmental real estate targets. The intention is that this benchmarking will serve as a catalyst for environmental engagement in real estate investments.
The survey also shows that a strikingly low number of property companies are able to report actual numbers on energy consumption (19% of respondents), water consumption (16%), or carbon emissions (14%).
The complete report “Environmental Performance: A Global Perspective on Commercial Real Estate” by Nils Kok, Piet Eichholtz, Rob Bauer and Paulo Saraiva Peneda, and a 2000-word summary, can be downloaded from
<< Back