A study by the Central European University in Budapest for UNEP about the impact and the cost-efficiency of the political instruments. According to this analysis, the best instruments are energy efficiency obligations and quotas, tax exemptions, utilities demand-size management programs and appliance standards.

This study made by Cushman & Wakefield analysed the behavioral change of investors, landlords and tenants towards "green" buildings, especially in the commercial sector.

An interesting study of the evolution of the renewable energy industry in France. Promising future ... if the households accept to finance it!

The good practice framework for measuring building-related environmental impacts proposed by Investment Property Database Ltd.

An interesting report, made by the BRE and the CSTB, including a comparison between six labels: the British BREEAM, the Japanese CASBEE, the Australian GREEN STAR, the French HQE, the American LEED and Italian ITACA.

The Energy Efficiency in Buildings project is an interesting business oriented project monitored by World Business Council for Sustainable Development. It gathers 14 multinational firms supervised by Lafarge and United Technologies Corporation. Report n°1 highlighted 4 key elements: regulations, holistic building approach, finance and behavior.

The WBCSD Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project 2nd report analysed the issue through subsector approach (single houses, offices, retail). 6 success factors are underlined: mobilization, codes, price signals, integrative approach, technologies and workforce capacity.

Comparison made by N.Larsson (iiSBE) for SB Alliance between BREEAM (UK), HQE (France), DGNB (Germany), AQUA (Brazil), SBC Uffici (Italy), PromisE (Poland) and LEnSE (European Project)labels.

A global survey on environmemtal performance of 200 real estate companies. Australian real estate industry is in advance in comparison to Europe and North America. A minority get an environmental policy and practical implementation through indicators.

Directive 2010/31/EU of 19 May 2010 on the Energy Performance of Buildings recasts Directive 2002/91/CE of 16 December 2002. It specifies a very ambitious objective for new construction (zero energy in 2020) and defines elements of an action plan for existing buildings (reinforced and controlled energy certificates, energy performance stated in the advertisements in commercial media and displayed in public buildings, minimum energy requirements for major renovations, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning inspections...). Actually Directive specifies the contents of close future regulations of the 27 countries members of European Union.