sector trying to predict the rate of adoption of sustainable technologies . There are huge changes coming – in some places faster than others – and in some places they ’ re more supported ,” says Haass .
“ In some ways , corporations – especially the global ones that are running ahead – often find it helpful when governments at all levels put the structures in place today that enable their smart investments in the green transition in a year ’ s time . People shouldn ’ t wait and wish for that to happen .”
The cost of complacency Businesses taking a conservative approach to adopting new infrastructure may be wary of the cost of such large investments in things like EV fleets and net zero facilities , which may feel risky to invest in with uncertainty in the future . The reality is that the paradigm has already shifted , resulting in a pragmatic approach from a cost and growth perspective , which is to begin investing in new , smart , net zero solutions today .
“ I think there are companies that aren ’ t building this into their strategy and , right now , are locking themselves into future sunk costs . If you are a property developer , let ’ s say you build a brand new asset , but you ’ ve built the entire HVAC system around fossil-fuels ,” says Haass as she unpacks this thought process .
“ If you build a fully electrified net zero facility from the start , you will financially benefit in the near term both because you won ’ t have to retrofit due to ( likely coming ) regulatory changes , but more so because you can ride the cost curve down as cheaper renewables become a larger share of the market .”
As renewable energy reaches a pivotal point , everyone is beginning to see how feasible a sustainable solution can be , but this comes with the correct infrastructure .
126 March 2024