Financial Times NICE paves the way for a climate-conscious future
September 19, 2023Can the Netherlands lead the construction industry towards net zero? | FT Climate Capital
The UN has warned that energy consumption in the construction sector is unprecedentedly high. 40% of global emissions are somehow linked to the built environment.
As architects and developers try to reconcile housing demand with profit-making endeavors, the sector is falling behind in the race to net zero, towards climate-neutral construction. But can sustainable building practices pave the way for a more climate-conscious future? Leyla Boulton of the Financial Times traveled to the Netherlands and spoke with Dutch architects/developers who are pioneers in the development of greener buildings, asking them what the future of the construction industry should look like and how we can collectively achieve that radical change.
Leyla spoke with Mark Compeer about SAWA and visited the SAWA construction site.
“The challenge for SAWA is to set an example that is impossible for mainstream developers and investors to resist.”
Financial Times, Leyla Boulton
Mark explained in detail why SAWA is such an important exemplary project and that we NICE Buildings and will develop more NICE Buildings if we want to be able to continue building in the future.
“It’s like a big container ship that has to turn around. And that’s not easy. That’s why you need start-ups, NICE Developers other parties who change the world.”
NICE Developers, Mark Compeer
It is fantastic to see how we—together with ERA Contour, Mei architects and planners, the Municipality of Rotterdam—Urban Development, and the entire SAWA team—are setting a good example for the Netherlands and beyond when it comes to building a more climate-conscious future. Watch the entire interview about "Green Building Pioneers" on the Financial Times website.
