How Building Green Attracts Finance by experts from NTMA and Ardstone (February 2024)

This course consists of recordings of a live CPD, hosted by the RIAI on 27 February 2024, on How Building Green Attracts Finance, by experts from NTMA and Ardstone.

Course Aim

The aim of the CPD course is to equip architects with a comprehensive understanding of how building green supports institutional funding avenues.

Course Overview

Part 1: The Asset Owner perspective

1. NTMA’s Ireland Strategic Investment Fund: Introduction to ISIF, its mission, and how it aligns with sustainable investments.
2. Investment Strategy: An overview of the ISIF’s approaches and priorities in green investment.
3. Real Assets Strategy & Sample Projects: Examination of real-life applications and successful green projects under ISIF's strategy.
4. Regulatory and Reporting Landscape Overview: Discussing key regulations like Green Deal, Taxonomy, SFDR, CSRD, and UN PRI, and their implications for green building.
5. S&RI (Sustainable and Responsible Investment) Strategy: Delving into how ISIF’s S&RI strategies influence green building investments.
6. ESG Due Diligence & the Importance of Climate in Investment Decisions: Understanding how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, especially climate considerations, play a crucial role in investment decisions.
7. Climate Reporting & Importance of Climate Data: The significance of accurate climate data and reporting in attracting investments.

Part 2: The investor perspective

1. Ardstone: Introduction, focusing on their perspective as investors/fund managers in green projects.
2. Investment Focus & Regulatory Requirements (SFDR): How Ardstone aligns its investment focus with regulatory requirements for sustainable development.
3. Investor Requirements & ESG Reporting: Understanding investor expectations and the role of ESG reporting in green projects.
4. Case Studies: An examination of various projects that incorporate sustainable models, institutional funding models for green projects, challenges and requirements for design teams, and implications for successful project delivery.
5. Future Focus & What Architects Can Do to Support Investments: Looking ahead to future trends in sustainable architecture and how architects can align their designs to attract investment.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course participants will be able to:

LO1: identify key sustainable design principles and their impact on attracting green financing in architectural projects.

LO2: understand essential financial and regulatory considerations for green architecture

LO3: recognize the role of ESG factors in enhancing the viability and appeal of architectural designs for investors.

LO4: describe successful strategies from case studies in green architecture that have attracted investment.

Speakers

Jessica Crowley

Jessica was appointed as Investment Director of Ardstone in 2021, having joined Ardstone in 2013. During her time at Ardstone, she has worked on the management of a number of regulated real estate investment funds, across the commercial and residential sectors. Her current focus is Ardstone’s €1bn core, social and affordable residential strategy which targets the undersupplied rental market in the Greater Dublin Area and has a strong emphasis on sustainability.

She has a Bachelors Degree in Business and Legal Studies from University College Dublin, a Master in Accounting from Smurfit Business School and is a Chartered Accountant (ACCA).

Deborah Meghen

Deborah is Investment Director with responsibility for Sustainable and Responsible Investment at the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. Deborah has spent over 25 years developing key infrastructure in areas such as power systems, renewables, telecoms and commercial development. With a passion for the environment and a strong technical and project management background she believes in driving sustainability to meet today’s global challenges. Deborah is a graduate from DIT Bolton St. and holds an Msc in Business Leadership from Smurfit UCD.

Image: RIAI Guide: Sustainable Design Pathways - RIAI Sustainability Award Winner 2020: Bunhill 2 Energy Centre, Islington, London, McGurk Architects and Cullinan Studio. Photo: Fergal Rainey.