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Face the Challenge
and make the Change
May Lv, Senior Associate Director, Savills Guangzhou Property & Asset Management;
LEED Fellow, LEED AP, LEED Green Rater; WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, CEM, PMP
According to a survey of clients conducted by Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic has affected
Savills, increasingly, buildings are being designed, nearly all aspects of everyday life for building
constructed or refurbished to a certified sustainability occupiers, managers, developers, and investors,
standard and 80% of survey respondents indicated as such, changes have had to be made, from 83%
that at least one building in their portfolio met such of respondents stating that they have increased
a standard. An even higher proportion, nearly 90%, their cleaning regimes, to 46% of respondents
plan to do so in the future. There is a lower proportion who introduced contactless design and technology
of schemes being managed or operated to certified into their spaces, it is clear that the real estate
sustainability standards, with 58% of respondents environment is already adapting to the “New
over the last year, just 10% of respondents said that Normal” and will continue to do so going forward.
their company ESG strategy has stayed the same or
become less important, despite the global pandemic, Significant opportunity remains, while Covid-19
which had the potential to derail the progress made, has brought near-term challenges, the response to
instead, it appears to have had the opposite impact and climate change remains perhaps the greatest long-
strengthened the majority of companies commitments. term challenge, and opportunity, for the sector,
tackling climate change and making a positive
The increasing importance of environmental strategy difference for society are causes that have moved up
is indicating that the corporations have committed the global agenda across all industries, investors in
to a sustainability objective. However, of those operational residential are getting serious about this,
that have made the commitment, stated that their as our ESG survey of the sector shows.
company target is for ‘operationally net-zero’ rather
than ‘full lifecycle net zero’ or a science-based carbon Tackling climate change and making a positive change
target, indicating that buildings in their portfolio for society have moved up the global agenda across
are being operated to such standards. better, more all industries, particularly in the last couple of years,
sustainable buildings, can offer different features to within the investment community, the rise in ESG
boost their green and social cohesion credentials, (environmental, social and governance) investment has
these elements often have the added bonus of been well documented, this is particularly important in
boosting user experience and lowering costs in the real estate as the built environment is responsible for
long term. almost 40% of carbon emissions globally.
Meanwhile, demand for sustainable buildings is The green revolution and an increased emphasis
rising on all fronts, the survey indicates that the on creating a better society are here to stay for the
largest source of demand for green buildings is long term, the pandemic has proven that the public,
coming from investors, followed by demand from industry, and governments are capable of instituting
within their own company, respondents indicated seismic changes when confronted with pressing
that this increased demand comes from a drive and needs. as humanity has adapted to and faced
for sustainability certifications, a need to reduce the realities of Covid-19, so too must we continue
resources used in operations and development, and to change how we live and work – in order to
increased corporate commitments to sustainability. incorporate sustainability into everyday life.
7 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
Face the Challenge
and make the Change
May Lv, Senior Associate Director, Savills Guangzhou Property & Asset Management;
LEED Fellow, LEED AP, LEED Green Rater; WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, CEM, PMP
According to a survey of clients conducted by Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic has affected
Savills, increasingly, buildings are being designed, nearly all aspects of everyday life for building
constructed or refurbished to a certified sustainability occupiers, managers, developers, and investors,
standard and 80% of survey respondents indicated as such, changes have had to be made, from 83%
that at least one building in their portfolio met such of respondents stating that they have increased
a standard. An even higher proportion, nearly 90%, their cleaning regimes, to 46% of respondents
plan to do so in the future. There is a lower proportion who introduced contactless design and technology
of schemes being managed or operated to certified into their spaces, it is clear that the real estate
sustainability standards, with 58% of respondents environment is already adapting to the “New
over the last year, just 10% of respondents said that Normal” and will continue to do so going forward.
their company ESG strategy has stayed the same or
become less important, despite the global pandemic, Significant opportunity remains, while Covid-19
which had the potential to derail the progress made, has brought near-term challenges, the response to
instead, it appears to have had the opposite impact and climate change remains perhaps the greatest long-
strengthened the majority of companies commitments. term challenge, and opportunity, for the sector,
tackling climate change and making a positive
The increasing importance of environmental strategy difference for society are causes that have moved up
is indicating that the corporations have committed the global agenda across all industries, investors in
to a sustainability objective. However, of those operational residential are getting serious about this,
that have made the commitment, stated that their as our ESG survey of the sector shows.
company target is for ‘operationally net-zero’ rather
than ‘full lifecycle net zero’ or a science-based carbon Tackling climate change and making a positive change
target, indicating that buildings in their portfolio for society have moved up the global agenda across
are being operated to such standards. better, more all industries, particularly in the last couple of years,
sustainable buildings, can offer different features to within the investment community, the rise in ESG
boost their green and social cohesion credentials, (environmental, social and governance) investment has
these elements often have the added bonus of been well documented, this is particularly important in
boosting user experience and lowering costs in the real estate as the built environment is responsible for
long term. almost 40% of carbon emissions globally.
Meanwhile, demand for sustainable buildings is The green revolution and an increased emphasis
rising on all fronts, the survey indicates that the on creating a better society are here to stay for the
largest source of demand for green buildings is long term, the pandemic has proven that the public,
coming from investors, followed by demand from industry, and governments are capable of instituting
within their own company, respondents indicated seismic changes when confronted with pressing
that this increased demand comes from a drive and needs. as humanity has adapted to and faced
for sustainability certifications, a need to reduce the realities of Covid-19, so too must we continue
resources used in operations and development, and to change how we live and work – in order to
increased corporate commitments to sustainability. incorporate sustainability into everyday life.
7 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
