Balancing the business- and eco-spheres

Green construction is not just marketing. Eco-buildings have now become the norm. It seems that everyone benefits from the trend: developers, tenants, investment funds and the environment A few numbers for you to meditate upon: in Europe buildings generate 50 pct of annual carbon dioxide emissions, consume 45 pct of all energy, are responsible for the pollution of 20 pct of the land and use 17 pct of the water. "According to the Kyoto protocol, EU members have undertaken to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission and increase renewable energy usage by 2020 - in accordance with the so-called '20-20-20 target'. In order to achieve these targets we have to focus on green construction. We simply have no other choice," insists Devin Saylor, the director responsible for the certification of green buildings in Eastern Europe at Colliers International. Green fashion and businessMore and more buildings are now eco-friendly. It is estimated that app. 50 pct of commercial building