ABSTRACT
There is a global need for the creation of more sustainable buildings if we are to meet our global carbon reduction targets and indeed one should start by reducing the environmental impact of our existing stock of buildings. The most significant perceived barrier to creating more sustainable buildings is that of finance. Sustainable buildings can be produced in a cost-effective manner but the preconceived view of many is that this is simply not true and it is generally too costly to produce a new sustainable building or retrofit an existing building to become more sustainable. A number of new financial strategies now exist and in the modern built environment there are vast opportunities to create sustainable cost-effective buildings. It all starts by changing the way we think i.e. changing our perception. If we do, we will not only create more sustainable buildings; but we will also find that there is a financial return on investment.
