Return of the Bricks

Abstract

What is green investing in real estate? Is it about trees in high rise? Is it the use of a solar panel curtain wall? Or is it a sophisticated choice between steel and concrete? What is green management? In the Dutch language green is easily associated with unripe. This is certainly correct for the approach of green investing so far. Investors, especially institutional investors, are still searching for the meaning of the Environmental, Social & Governance aspects. As far as real estate is concerned, it is about ranking of sustainability, adjustability, transformation potential, but also transparency of the process. Sufficient knowledge of building characteristics is essential for the definition of the proper research questions. This paper suggests the answer is in the bricks.