Sustainability and the property industry

Sustainability and the property industry Sustainability and the property industryPosted March 19, 2012, by Aziza Green The dynamic property industry has a wealth of opportunities for anyone who is driven to succeed. The industry now also provides opportunities to make a lasting difference to the planet for future generations. With sustainability becoming the buzzword of our times, professionals from architects to property managers are championing the cause of environmental responsibility. An appreciation of how finite our natural resources are has prompted national and international focus on reducing waste and unnecessary damage to the environment. By focusing on moderating the consumption of natural resources, professionals in the real estate industry can make a difference to the environment as well as align their organisations with the message of sustainability, creating a positive profile in the process. Specialists in every facet of the property industry can incorporate susta inability into their approach. Sustainability can be integrated into the plan of commercial and residential buildings, reducing waste and lowering the consumption of natural resources such as energy and water. Green plan and development One of the most radical initiatives introduced to help develop a sustainable property industry in Australia was the establishment of the Green Building Council. With 2012 being the ten-year anniversary since its launch, the Green Building Council has driven the adoption of green building practices in the property industry through market-based solutions. The Green Building Council developed a Green Star environment rating system for buildings in 2003. The Green Star rating tools are designed to help businesses reduce the environmental impact of buildings, improve occupant health and productivity, and achieve real cost savings. This tool can be used in a variety of sectors, including commercial offices (through their design, construction and interior fit-outs), retail centres, schools and universities, multi-unit residential dwellings, industrial facilities and public buildings. The Green Building Council has reached a landmark of 400 certified Green Star building projects since the program began in 2004. Green management Green lease agreements are another development to facilitate sustainability in the property industry. Property managers and landlords can use green leases to work with tenants to maximise the sustainable elements of the building that they live or work in. Property managers and tenants can negotiate an agreement whereby the tenant agrees to use energy-rated major electrical equipment, reduce electricity and water consumption, and recycle and manage other waste responsibly. In exchange, the property manager agrees to manage the buildings mechanical systems to conserve energy, install water fixtures to reduce water consumption, operate an effective recycling program and more. The combined efforts of the tenant an d the owner or property manager not only reduce the impact of everyday living and working on the environment, but can also represent cost savings on water and electricity for the tenant. The property industry has an important role to play in environmental sustainability. It can significantly reduce the negative impact that a new building has on the environment over time by integrating sustainable features into the design and construction of new buildings. Retrofitting existing buildings with green features is another way that sustainability can be implemented. With constant development in the area of sustainability in property, architecture and development, it is now possible to integrate your desire to make a difference in the world with your passion for buildings. See our real estate courses, architecture courses, building construction courses and environmental courses for more information about how to get into these industries.Real Estate ResourcesProperty manager sample resu meProperty manager sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesSimon Carter - Architect and Sustainability ConsultantGeorgette Mourad - Senior ArchitectInterested in becoming a?Property ManagerReal Estate Sales AgentProperty DeveloperProperty AdviserProperty ValuerPopular Career Searchesproperty services course qldcertificate iv in property services nswgovt funded certificate iv in property services canberracert 4 in property services qldcertificate iv in property services zugnglich courseReal Estate CoursesGraduate Diploma of PropertyEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Construction ManagementEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineDiploma of Building and Construction (Building)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineAziza GreenRelated ArticlesBrowse moreReal EstateHammer time Considering a career in real estateIf you have a winning way with people and are a skilled negotiator, the real estate industry could be your tick et to a dynamic and lucrative career.Real EstateReal estate careers boom or bust?The property market is booming but does that mean a job in real estate is a sound career move? From courses, to commissions to your competition, weve got all your questions answered.WORKFORCE TRENDSGovernment efforts to save property sectorTwo years ago the Australian property sector was booming. Whether it was in commercial, residential, funds management or development, big bucks were being made and times were good.

Sample Informal Employee Recognition Letters

Sample Informal Employee Recognition LettersSample Informal Employee Recognition LettersHere are a few sample thank-you letters that an employer can write to an employee to recognize the employees good work. These are informal employee recognition letter samples. The informal employee recognition letter can be written in minutes. Keep in mind that anemployee recognition letteris also appropriate from coworkers, employees in different departments, managers, supervisors, and executives, as well as from the employees boss. Coworkers are mora likely to use the semi-formal or the informal style of employee recognition letter, as opposed to a more formal letter from a boss or supervisor. Dont hesitate to thank and recognize your coworkers for their efforts. Just as ?a?manager can boost morale by praising their employees successes, individual contributors can boost morale by being kind to their coworkers and praising their successes as well. You need help to get your job done correctly and if your coworkers know how much you appreciate them, theyll be more likely to help you in the future. Should you copy your coworkers boss on these informal musiknotes that are written to a coworker? Sometimes, though maybe not for a thanks for your help today note. In the following samples that mention specific accomplishments and tasks, however, letting your coworkers boss know can really make your coworkers day. Sample Recognition Letter Mark, I want you to know how much we appreciate the extra time you put in this week to get the new product orders shipped. The customers were well-served by your extra efforts and thecompany appears customer-oriented because we deliveredon our promised timeline. Thanks so much again. Cathy Sample Recognition Letter 2 Jaysheeri, It welches such a great surprise today when I came in and found out that youd taken care of running the month-end reports while I was out sick yesterday. I was stressed out, thinking about how I would possibly get t hese done today, and was relieved to see that you did them. Talk about a great boost to my day Thank you again. Its great to know that you have my back when Im sick. If I can ever do anything to help you out, please let me know. Thanks, Holly Sample Recognition Letter 3 Brian, Your presentation today was awesome. I think you totally nailed it and even though the clients were pretty silent, I could see by the looks on their faces that they were impressed. Im pretty sure well close this deal because of your hard work today. Im super excited. Thanks, Rachel Sample Recognition Letter 4 Maria, I wanted to thank you for the training session last week. I was dreading going through training for the new HR system. In the past, all technical training has been so dry and boring that I could barely keep my eyes open. To my surprise, your class was not only informative but fascinating. I feel like I really got the information I need to be able to do my job. Now that Ive been using the ne w system for a week, Im laughing at why I was so freaked out about the change. Your class really made the transition smooth. Thanks, Nicholas Conclusions As you can see, it doesnt have to be a long letter or filled with technical terms. Just ask yourself, would I like to receive a thank-you note if I had done that? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and take a couple of minutes to write an email. Your coworkers will appreciate your thoughtfulness. If you start doing this, you may find yourself receiving this type of note as well. If you have a particularly obnoxious or annoying coworker, praising them when they do something good can start to train them to focus more on the positive things and less on the negative things. You can affect change in this way. If you do receive a note such as this, make sure that you save it. When youre writing your self-evaluation each year, you can refer to these notes and make sure your boss knows about the impact you have had on your organizatio n.