Benchmark Study on Green Buildings - Royal Architectural Institute ...

in the building industry than its predecessor, and this could result in a much stronger push
for sustainability in the construction industry in the near future.
As with most new ideas, there are always skeptics and people opposed to them. Green
buildings are no exception. People argue that green technologies and practices do not
result in measurable decreases in resource and energy consumption, that it is just a
method to obtain higher lease rates, and that the most advanced green buildings are still
comparable to conventional buildings. These skeptics need to be silenced by objective
and statistically sound information so that the green building revolution can progress
unhindered. One of the best ways to promote green development is to have satisfied
occupants speak out about the value and benefits of using and occupying these structures.
Public awareness campaigns can use successful case studies and personal experiences to
significantly strengthen their message.
8.2.2 Programs, Initiatives & Government Action:
Governments in many of the nations reviewed are choosing to make their buildings more
energy efficient, are conducting energy retrofits in older existing buildings and are
increasing the use of green technology in their new buildings in order to promote green
building and lead by example. As governments are among the largest single owners of
buildings in a nation and because they set the policy and laws that must be followed by
their regions’ citizens, their efforts to support the green building movement must be
strong if other people and groups are expected to follow. By implementing green
practices and equipment into their own buildings, governments demonstrate that they are
willing to make a commitment to improve their buildings and reduce their environmental
impacts, and that green technologies are both feasible and cost-effective. In Canada, the
federal government is doing its part through the Federal House in Order (FHIO) initiative
and the Federal Buildings Initiative (FBI), but there is always room for improvement,
such as increasing the coverage or funding of these programs or developing a new federal
green building scheme. However, action by provincial and local governments in terms of
green building commitments is relatively weak, and could use some more attention and
improvement.
Governments should begin encouraging banks, lenders, and building associations to offer
loans at better rates to customers planning to use the money in building renovation,
greening or improvement projects. Any help to people interested in greening their
buildings is good help and can lead to more widespread home and building greening.
Canadian Governments should also begin offering programs that specifically support
green building research and development and the development of new green technologies.
Currently, many Canadian programs exist to fund research and development projects, but
these programs do not specifically address green building practices and technologies.
While there are many funding programs available, most programs in the broad category
of “green building programs” focus on energy efficiency, as this one of the most
important aspects of green building and one of the easiest areas to make significant
improvements without significant investment. Although these programs are beneficial,
governments and organizations should begin to diversify the green building programs
they offer so that they more wholly reflect the values of the green building movement.
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