Until recently, retail development—with its emphasis on increased consumerism and growth—and sustainability have been almost a contradiction in terms.
Although sustainability has become commonplace in residential and office developments, the retail model, with its emphasis on short-term financial deals, means many developers do not hold onto a project long enough to receive the benefits associated with sustainability. As a result, while developers pay for green attributes, it is the tenants who receive the benefits.
Add to that equation retail's dependence on the automobile and typical smaller profit margins and you can see why sustainability has been a design challenge.
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