International property and construction consultants Davis Langdon have developed an on-line handbook to enable developers, property owners and builders to come to grips with the overwhelming mass of information and requirements surrounding energy efficiency and sustainability in the property sector.

Davis Langdon has published an e-book entitled The Road to ‘Green Property’ which sets out the complex procedures involved in establishing the greenhouse gas content and emissions across the entire range of property development.

The handbook details Davis Langdon’s research as well as the rules, regulations and requirements for commercial, residential and retail development, the health care, education and community sectors, and will be regularly updated online so that it contains the most recent and relevant information dealing with environmental sustainability.

Managing Director Mark Beattie said there was a need for a mechanism to enable everyone involved with the building and construction sector to understand the new regime that would govern the construction and maintenance of buildings in the future.

“This landscape is complex and changing all the time, which is why we have produced this handbook as an online document that can always be kept up to date,” he said.

“The issue is so complex that there is a lot of mystique and confusion about what is required to develop sustainable property. This handbook brings together all of the issues in an intelligent way, providing information about what is required and what costs might be involved and helps smooth the pathway to access this information.

“It is a broad-brush coverage of all of the issues involved across all sectors, but can be used as a specific reference tool by anyone who wants to focus on a particular area of construction or development.

“Most importantly, it is built on the intelligence that we have gained over time as practitioners in the industry, so it is not coming from an academic perspective but rather coming from people who are out there in the marketplace dealing with issues that are relevant to their every day business.”

Mr Beattie said The Road to ‘Green Property’ handbook was designed to provide a clear gap analysis taking owners towards a balanced improvement strategy.

“A holistic approach to the assessment process and a high level benchmark is required to show owners where their property or portfolio sits against a range of performance measures,” he said.

“These cover social responsibility categories – the ‘triple bottom line’: ecological, social and economic.

“There have been a number of useful tools developed to assist in the assessment of embodied energy and emissions, and owners should be encouraged to make use of these to ensure that they meet 21st century standards for their buildings.”

Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of Australia, Romilly Madew, said the handbook reflected the dynamic and diverse nature of green building industry.

“The rapid rate of change can be a challenge for anyone building – or even contemplating – green,” she said.

“The Road to Green Property provides further evidence of the benefits, outlines the growing costs of not going green, and will be a valuable resource for anyone needing a broad understanding of how to improve the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings."

For further information, contact Meaghan Jones on +61 3 9933 8800 or email mjones2@davislangdon.com.au