A new study indicates that green building has emerged in the hospitality and retail industries.
Statistics show that retail owners with green building plans have implemented green building projects in more than 50% of their annual project plans, jumping from 18% in 2011 to 38% this year, with a projected growth rate of 52% by 2015. In the food and beverage and hospitality industry, the percentage of projects implementing green building initiatives exceeding half of their annual project plans has risen from 28% in 2011 to 48% this year, and is expected to reach 64% by 2015.
A green building plan is defined as one that meets LEED or other green building standards, or demonstrates energy conservation, water conservation, improved indoor air quality, and resource conservation. Two-thirds of retail owners (65%) and 73% of restaurant owners stated that they consistently practice green operations.
What forces drive the green building trend? Undeniably, the enormous commercial profits following the implementation of green building programs are the main driving force.
– 年營運成本降低：零售業平均節省8%的年營運成本，而餐旅業節省大約1%。
– 能源使用量減少：零售業及餐旅業皆減少15%的能源使用量。
– 資產值增加：零售業增加7%，餐旅業增加11%。
– 投資報酬率增加：零售業增加8%，而餐旅業增加14%。
The research report points out that green building has always been a unique challenge for stable investments in the retail and hospitality industries. Interviews with property owners reveal that clear benefits are a major reason for implementing green building investments. Once owners can measure the reduction in environmental impact of green buildings and quantify the impact of green operations on sales speed and the welfare of employees, consumers, and customers, they are more likely to commit to green building initiatives.
While the most frequently cited reason for promoting green building is reducing operating costs (66% in retail and 73% in hospitality), other factors are considered important in the decision-making process of industry players:
– Discounts for public utility bills such as water and electricity.
Maintaining and enhancing brand value is especially important for hotel operators, as brand value is just as important as costs.
– Increased rate of return on investment.
除了商業考量之外，44%的零售商及50%的\旅業者認為，環境健康和員工及客戶的福利也是非常重要的因素。較大的綠建築投資計劃面臨的挑戰包括高額的頭期款，企業內部的預算考量以及領導高層是否買單等。
While energy efficiency remains a key consideration in green building initiatives, resource recycling and waste management are also becoming increasingly important issues. 75% of businesses believe that green operations largely require supplier cooperation, especially in waste management.
This month, 23 hotel operators worldwide voluntarily joined the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) to work together to establish carbon emission calculation standards for the hotel industry. Other initiatives include reducing bottled water use or setting up electric vehicle charging stations.
Sources: GreenBiz (2013-07-03) (PIDC 編譯)
