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New green standards launched - 21 May 2008

Buyers looking to make sure their new property overseas conforms to their ideas of a sustainable project will soon have a new guide to make sure they are able to choose the development and developer wisely.

Next month will see the launch of the GREEN Building Standard, and independent mark to help buyers through the maze of claims of environmental credentials and some of the more confusing jargon used by agents and developers in promoting their projects.

Individual developments will be awarded bronze, silver, gold or platinum Standards to mark out the extent and effectiveness of the environmental and sustainable features of the development to allow them to make an informed decision in line with their own individual demands as a consumer.

Launched in response to a shift in the buying habits and requirements of overseas property clients, the GREEN Building Standard has been set up by Green Horizons, a division of overseas property network Blue Horizons, and will judge projects based upon a range of criteria from site sustainability to the use and recycling of water, energy efficiency and resources used in the building. The aim is to produce an easy-to-understand guide for consumers and eliminate the confusion surrounding the eco credentials of some developments.

Green Horizons Managing Director, Colin Barrett-Treen, explains, “We have designed a system which can easily be applied across national and continental borders. Using the GREEN Building Standard, purchasers will be able to easily identify how environmentally friendly a property is when compared to others which have gained an award, wherever those properties are situated in the world. Additionally, because the granting of the rating is based on certification by the project architects, the awards can be made very early in the development process. This allows buyers to make informed decisions even when they buy off-plan.”

A survey conducted by Green Horizons of 181 people buying or interested in buying property overseas showed that 92 per cent would prefer to buy a property with environmentally-friendly features built in.

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