SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Evaluate the latest knowledge and innovations in Sustainable Development to ascertain how property value and returns can be maximized.

Our LDEV 671 course was focused around sustainable development. During this course we dove into sustainable values, rights, and property. We also learned how to analyze the Sustainability Dividend. According to Professor Geoffrey Booth, this term can be defined as “the enhanced financial performance of real estate asset/portfolios that arises from the application of environmental design, science, and solutions to:

(i) increase the percentage of the tenant’s total occupancy cost that is paid to the landlord as net rent; and,

(ii) groom existing assets, conceptualize, design and deliver new assets which cost less to operate thereby achieving comparatively lower capitalization rates.”

In this case, this course helped to determine how we, as students, could implement various forms of environmental science, solutions & designs to improve an asset’s overall Cost-Effectiveness considering:

  • Emissions

  • Energy

  • Facilities Management

  • Indoor Environmental Management

  • Innovation and Design

  • Land Use and Ecology

  • Materials

  • Transportation

  • Water

As part of an assignment, we were asked to choose one of the above topics in which we would like to research and expand upon. As someone who is fascinated with new ideas & products I chose Innovation & Design. I have always been interested in how technology & innovations can play an important role in incorporating sustainability into any project.

Below is a report over on the Advantages of Sustainable Innovation & Design. The written report details specific data on Financial & Economic Benefits from sustainable innovation & design. The readers can obtain pertinent information on how important sustainable design can be to the economy based on various aspects of research and case studies. It’s clear to see that the smallest change can make a large impact. Not only can sustainable design be economically beneficial, but these small changes have been seen to alter ways of life. While the article explains the correlation between economic benefits, it also explains Social & Environmental Benefits as well. 

Additionally, a group of students and I were tasked with combining all of our findings into one presentation. Our presentation was required to combine all of our research into a effortless & seamless flow. In this presentation, our group expanded upon the definition(s) of Sustainable Innovation & Design, the Evolution of Design for Sustainability Framework, Environmental, Social/Cultural, & Economic/Business innovations which affect how our every-day lives are shaped.


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