Financing “Green” Buildings – Opportunities and Challenges

The discussion about “green” buildings and sustainable real estate is not just a passing trend, as was sometimes initially presumed, but has instead proved to be “sustainable” itself. It is a topic being discussed not only by politicians and the wider public but also by banks, which have an interest in the topic as owners and lessees of office real estate, as well as in their role as real estate financiers. This article is intended to help define the position with regard to the latter aspect. It focuses on offices, the asset class that in Germany has the highest share of buildings with sustainability certifications.