The attempt to raise profitability remains the key factor driving the interest in sustainable buildings globally, but the US is still not placing as much importance on the issue as other markets, according to the latest Global Property Sustainability Survey, released by RICS on 26 November 2009.

Overall the majority of surveyors believe their clients place a level of importance on sustainability issues, with only 7 percent of respondents seeing it as not important. Germany, Brazil and China place the greatest importance on sustainability; however it is respondents in the US, which were the least positive, with 13 percent of respondents seeing environmental issues as not important at all, whilst only 9 percent saw it as very important.

Russia, the UAE, India and Spain were the only other countries where a percentage of surveyors felt that sustainability was not important to their clients, however in these instances the negative responses were outweighed by those placing greater importance on the issues.

To read more or to download the report go on www.joinricsineurope.eu/pressroom