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What forces are today driving large property companies in Sweden to save energy and increase energy performance in buildings? This master thesis focusing on mandatory- and voluntary policy has used a Political Science perspective on Urban Planning questions. In this qualitative case-study, interviews were conducted with 7 out of the 10 biggest property companies in Sweden. It includes both an investigation into which policies are found to be relevant for companies as well as a discussion about which actors are pushing them to reduce energy and become more sustainable. Results show that companies make voluntary commitments that go beyond what current mandatory building- and energy regulations demand. Instead they use voluntary policy 25-35% below BBR-levels, mainly by using building certification Miljöbyggnad, to certify and communicate their efforts. All companies have energy targets published in yearly reports and continuously work to reduce their energy- and emissions output. Yearly reports also show that 6 out of 7 companies now use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Some have joined benchmarking initiative GRESB or the CDP. The use of voluntary informational disclosure systems show that companies are under increasing pressure to become more (verifiably) sustainable.

In 2007, Mayor Thomas Menino and the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) implemented an amendment to the Boston Zoning Code Article 37 (Green Buildings) requiring new construction approved under Article 80B (Development Review and Approval: Large Project Review) be designed and built to meet the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USGBC LEED) certification. This amendment is intended to promote green building practices in the city and reduce the environmental impacts of buildings larger than 50,000 square feet. Article 37 does not require that the buildings actually achieve LEED certification, but they need to be LEED certifiable as determined by an interagency review committee and with the endorsement of a LEED Accredited Professional. This study examines how environmental goals have been translated into policy and how this policy has affected building practice in the City of Boston. The Green Buildings amendment was enacted to help curb greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the energy consumption of the building stock and is expected to help achieve the City’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 25% by the year 2020 and 80% by the year 2050. This is not possible without a shift in the current building and construction paradigm. Through interviews with building professionals we assess whether this building code amendment has resulted in any necessary changes in practice and whether or not those working under the standard of LEED certifiability believe it to be an effective policy.

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