Over the last few years, sustainability has shifted from a voluntary trend that businesses could consider implementing to becoming a necessity that needs to be enacted upon. However, not all companies and organisations are doing their bit to futureproof the environment - which is why it’s important now more than ever for those leading sustainability in different industries and sectors, like us here at Berkeley Group, to champion green building and shows how important it is in the real estate industry and beyond.
Put simply, gone are the days when sustainability was a niche interest of a select few. Today, everyone wants to go green. Consumers now demand and expect it in most, if not all, aspects of their lives – especially in their homes and places of work.
And as sustainability is a topic and ideal that Berkeley Group holds close to its heart and seeks to achieve in every project we develop, we would like to explore the importance of building homes that can last not only a lifetime but forever.
Why is building sustainable homes important?
Now more than ever, it is critical for businesses and individuals alike to not only think about the environment and how we can lessen the damaging impact we’re having on it, but to start taking action and incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable effective strategies, practices and solutions in our daily lives.
In other words – we only have one earth and if we don’t start doing our part, there won’t be an inhabitable planet left for future generations. And, believe it or not, the real estate industry has a larger part than most to play. Here’s why:
These are just a few statistics that show the immense impact that real estate developers can have on the environment, and how their business can benefit from making these sustainable changes in the process.
We are especially proud to have been the first homebuilder in 2017/2018 to become carbon neutral in our operations and continue to build on that status by making sustainability fundamental to our business ethos. We are also the first homebuilder to win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
Berkeley Group has been awarded a place on CDP’s prestigious Climate Change “A List”, which recognises global companies “leading the way to a more sustainable future”. Furthermore, Berkeley is the only UK homebuilder to be awarded an A rating for Climate Action and Transparency, which is the highest score possible. As of 2021, only 3% of all companies assessed by CDP achieved this leadership grade.
Our approach to sustainability is about considering the future, developing homes and places that we hope will still exist decades from now without negatively impacting the world around it. On each and every site, we focus on community building, enhancing nature and biodiversity, and tackling climate change.
Berkeley Group is fully committed to building homes that contribute to the future of this planet. If you’d like to see our policy in action, be sure to view our available developments and witness the strides we have made toward a better future for all.
1 https://www.ey.com/en_us/real-estate-hospitality-construction/four-pillars-impacting-sustainable-sustainability-in-real-estate
2 https://www.worldgbc.org/benefits-green-buildings
3 https://comfyliving.net/green-building-statistics/