Green building developments are not new to construction in the U.S., and South African developers have been taking the benefits of green one step further, providing further examples for implementations in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.
South Africa has been a leading green business developer and the news source reports there are many lessons that the U.S. can learn from it in commercial real estate building development.
Using cutting-edge materials is not new to the green construction world and adding features such as solar water heaters, insulated ceilings, energy efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting systems can help add greater energy efficiency. The Journal reports these effects were all demonstrated and discussed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
"Green buildings can be about large headquarters of governments and companies, but it also can be about the Main Street of a township," Roger Platt, senior vice president of the U.S. Green Building Council, told the paper.
Green technology can greatly reduce electricity and water consumption helping significantly in the expenses for commercial real estate and making green properties more marketable.