I thought that this month I would simply share a few links that I found interesting. I would like to preface them by saying that whether you agree or disagree with the protests, if you're reading this, you're part of the 99% that these people are talking about. And, if you're part of the 1%, we need to get together and discuss real estate investment opportunities. A statistic was just released from the CBO that the wealth of the top 1% of the US population (that make $344,000/year or more on tax returns) has grown by 275% since 1979, while the bottom 20%'s (individuals who made $25,000/year or less) wealth grew by just under 18%. This is a very hot button issue and people have very strong opinions on the topic, and there are always "deadbeats," "troublemakers," "and "losers" that take part in any kind of protest or cause that tend to yell louder and spoil it for others (i.e. Tea Parties), so I thought that I would just share these links to also expose the idea that these "Occupy" movements are going on all over the world. I'm not taking sides or trying to convince anyone of what to think or not to think, but the distribution of wealth is the basis for a strong democracy, and that is just a fact agreed upon by any economist on any political side. And, currently the US ranks just above Uganda, Cambodia, Iran, and Cameroon. So, take a look, it's pretty interesting...
Graph and article about the CBO growth of wealth study:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/income-doubles-top-percent-1979/story?id=14817561
"Occupy" opinions from around the globe:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/oct/21/occupy-wall-street-whyoccupy-conversation
Map of the "Occupy Protests":
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/oct/18/occupy-protests-map-world
Country's of the world distribution of wealth comparison:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2172rank.html
Feel free to share your thoughts, but please, play nice!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Fewer Sick Days, Higher Rents in Green Buildings
Environmentally-friendly construction practices have gotten a lot of hype over the past few years but do they really pay off as an investment? A new study found that tenants in green buildings experience increased productivity and fewer sick days. The research also found that that green buildings have lower vacancy rates and higher rents than non-green counterparts.
The study, conducted by the University of San Diego and commercial real estate broker CB Richard Ellis Group, found that tenants in green buildings such as the Behnisch Architekten-designed Unilever offices in Hamburg above are more productive based on two measures: the average number of tenant sick days and a productivity change. Respondents reported an average of 2.88 fewer sick days in their current green office versus their previous non-green office. About 55% of respondents indicated that employee productivity had improved.
Based on the average tenant salary, an office space of 250 square feet per worker and 250 workdays a year, the decrease in sick days translated into a net impact of nearly $5.00 per square foot per year. The increase in productivity translated into a net impact of about $20 per square foot. The study also showed that green buildings have 3.5% lower vacancy rates and 13% higher rental rates than the market.
The work was based on surveys of 154 buildings under CBRE's management, totaling more than 51.6 million square feet and housing 3,000 tenants in ten markets across the U.S. The study defined a green building as those with LEED certification at any level or those that bear the EPA ENERGY STAR ® label.
Another report out in the past week concluded that constructing new green buildings or retrofitting existing structures with energy efficient air conditioning, solar panels and the like will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy over the next four years. The study, by the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton, determined that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.
The economic impact of the total green construction market from 2000 to 2008, the study found, was $178 billion. It created or saved 2.4 million jobs and generated $123 billion in wages.
The U.S. Green Building Council certifies LEED buildings and obviously has an interest in the movement, but Rick Fedrizzi, chief exec of the group said something remarkably down to earth in releasing the report: “Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green – and transforming every job in our industry into a green job.”
Can't argue with that. And, there is not near enough of this going on in the Appalachian region, and we have one the most naturally beautiful areas in the world to protect. Call T. C. Lewis & Co. for any questions about green building or retro-fitting.
*Some info was taken from Business Week (September 2011)
The study, conducted by the University of San Diego and commercial real estate broker CB Richard Ellis Group, found that tenants in green buildings such as the Behnisch Architekten-designed Unilever offices in Hamburg above are more productive based on two measures: the average number of tenant sick days and a productivity change. Respondents reported an average of 2.88 fewer sick days in their current green office versus their previous non-green office. About 55% of respondents indicated that employee productivity had improved.
Based on the average tenant salary, an office space of 250 square feet per worker and 250 workdays a year, the decrease in sick days translated into a net impact of nearly $5.00 per square foot per year. The increase in productivity translated into a net impact of about $20 per square foot. The study also showed that green buildings have 3.5% lower vacancy rates and 13% higher rental rates than the market.
The work was based on surveys of 154 buildings under CBRE's management, totaling more than 51.6 million square feet and housing 3,000 tenants in ten markets across the U.S. The study defined a green building as those with LEED certification at any level or those that bear the EPA ENERGY STAR ® label.
Another report out in the past week concluded that constructing new green buildings or retrofitting existing structures with energy efficient air conditioning, solar panels and the like will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy over the next four years. The study, by the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton, determined that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.
The economic impact of the total green construction market from 2000 to 2008, the study found, was $178 billion. It created or saved 2.4 million jobs and generated $123 billion in wages.
The U.S. Green Building Council certifies LEED buildings and obviously has an interest in the movement, but Rick Fedrizzi, chief exec of the group said something remarkably down to earth in releasing the report: “Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green – and transforming every job in our industry into a green job.”
Can't argue with that. And, there is not near enough of this going on in the Appalachian region, and we have one the most naturally beautiful areas in the world to protect. Call T. C. Lewis & Co. for any questions about green building or retro-fitting.
*Some info was taken from Business Week (September 2011)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
