Think new, think sustainable!
- building and managing properties for the future

Summary of a report from the Swedish Environmental Advisory Council´s dialogue Bygga/Bo

The report is the fruit of a dialogue between representatives of 20 companies with a broad connection to the building and property sector, three municipalities and the Swedish Environmental Advisory Council´s dialogue group called Bygga/Bo (in english Building/Living"). The report presents our common vision for a sustainable building and property sector, goals for the future and a strategy for achieving the goals and the vision.

The vision is not a forecast of how the future will unfold, but rather the dialogue group's picture of how they would like the future to be in 2025. Based on this vision, we have prioritized energy and resource efficiency improvements along with the indoor environment and sound material selection as being important for sustainable development in this sector. Since the whole of society is affected, it is our hope that the vision will contribute to the debate of what is entailed by sustainable development in the building and property sector.

With seven strategic goals, we would like to clarify the work of achieving this vision. The goals entail, among other things, that no fossil fuels are used in the sector in 2025, and that energy use decreases by at least 30 percent.

By analyzing obstacles and ways to stimulate progress towards sustainability, we have identified seven priority areas for action:

1. Sustainable community planning
2. Use of best possible technology and development of new technology
3. Purchasing with a life cycle perspective and a holistic view
4. Coordination of the building and property management processes
5. Classification of residential and commercial properties
6. Investment in research and development
7. Marketing of environmental solutions

The work will continue within task groups in these areas plus a group for efficient property management. The objective is to achieve agreements on concrete action by November 2001.

The dialogue has focused on the ecological dimension of sustainable development while attempting to find solutions that are also socially attractive and economically sound. We are convinced that the work can also lead to new business opportunities both in Sweden and on international markets.

The work has been conducted within the framework of the Swedish Enviromental Advisory Council's Government commission to formulate strategies for the development of an ecologically sustainable business sector. The commission includes preparing and initiating a dialogue with segments of the business community regarding their work with sustainable development. The Swedish Environmental Advisory Council advises the Government on environmental issues.

More information siv.naslund@environment.ministry.se