Renewable island: Green ethos at core of Irish construction

Tommy Barker, Property Editor, looks at the developers whose environmental commitments are bringing Irish buildings to new heights of sustainability

One Albert Quay, Cork. Home to Johnson Controls and others, the building is among the leaders globally for sustainable design; it is in the Gold LEED standard since 2016.

Land and our planet’s resources are precious, and finite, so it’s essential our buildings for the future, for environmental sustainability, for underlying values and for human habitation recognise that fact, and continue their upward trajectory of smart design, sensitive and appropriate siting, best construction practice, delivery, evolution, energy usage and adaptability.

Buildings should of course carry best-practice forward, both in how they are made and in how they perform: now, the marketplace (from investors, designers and occupiers) is recognising that imperative and, vitally, is prepared to pay a premium for it too.