Sustainability Magazine March 2024 | Page 127

STRATEGIES

“ THE REALITY IS THAT BUSINESSES WANT PREDICTABILITY . THEY WANT CLARITY ”

ALEXIS OLANS HAASS CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER , ARCADIS
The result : smart management of energy consumption through digital systems , which leverage battery storage to grant more reliable power from a variable source – renewables .
See the curve and ramp up In all of this there is an overarching point regarding the trends across infrastructure sectors . The cost improvements and innovation of sustainable technologies have improved steadily for decades , but Haass explains this trajectory is skyrocketing .
“ We ’ re on a sharp curve , not a steady one . Many companies are planning for that steady growth in technology , in smart systems , and adaptation ,” she says . “ They ’ ve got the scale wrong . Even with the current pressures of the property market , for example , there are no-regrets decisions that can be made right now that will pay off .”
Now , this isn ’ t to say that costs have wavered in the face of technology ’ s growth . There are significant financial hurdles to consider when positioning investments in new infrastructure and real estate . But , Olans Haass stresses that these costs will continue to increase in some major areas , notably the value of physical assets , particularly when the economy retains its steady incline across most western countries . The key to combating inflationary pressures when she says : “ You might not get more profitable , but you ’ ll defend against loss depending on the circumstance ”.
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