SustainabilityThe built environment is responsible for 40% of carbon emissions globally (Dixon, 2009, p. 4) and so the focus is on reducing the carbon footprint through recycling and energy efficiency. Sustainability is gaining momentum among corporate real estate players, with some benefits easier to measure than others. Sustainability is now seen as a critical issue for 69% of businesses due to their role as occupiers of real estate (Dixon, 2009, p. ?). It is likely that regularity incentives and market penalties will be increased by 2020, which will hopefully reduce the cycle of mutual blame between investors, developers, occupiers and builders for the lack of progress ( Dixon, 2009). Currently, sustainable commercial real estate is more established in slower-growing advanced economies than in rapidly emerging ones. The United States is leading the way, as it has already introduced a requirement for transparency of energy consumption in commercial buildings in some of its cities, with New York imposing fines on those who do not comply (Corenet Global , 2012). Building efficiency is encouraged through sustainable certifications such as LEED and CREEAM in the US and UK. This produces a benchmark for occupiers and investors to judge the sustainability characteristics of buildings (Dixon, 2009). However, there are only a small number of compliant buildings; 98% of commercial stock exists and only 7% of offices built each year with BREEAM status good or above in the UK (Dixon, 2009, p. 7). It is argued that corporate compliance arises from a desire to be transparent and credible with their customers and driven by corporate image and results rather than the regulation itself. For example, sustainability differs in importance between sec...... middle of paper ......upiers: studying the differences. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 13(2), pp. 81-97. Rymarzak, M. & Siemińska, E., 2012. Factors affecting the location of real estate. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 14(4), pp. 214-225. Sharp, D. & LaSalle, JL, 2013. Future risks: the transformation of the corporate real estate function. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 15(3/4), pp. 231-243. Thompson, B. & Ke, Q., 2012. Do environmental factors matter: some evidence from UK property companies. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 14(1), pp. 7-20. Too, LT & Harvey, M., 2012. “TOXIC” workplaces: the negative interface between physical and social environments. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 14(3), pp. 171-181. Wilkinson, S., 2012. Adaptation patterns in high-end office buildings over time in the Melbourne CBD. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 14(3), pp.. 157-170.