A new article argues that developers who cut costs by using carbon-intensive materials and poor insulation may be creating stranded assets. The piece points out that embodied carbon can account for over half of a building's lifetime emissions, and that investors, lenders, and tenants are starting to penalize inefficient properties. The author suggests that lower upfront construction costs often lead to higher long-term operational costs, retrofit obligations, and weaker resale values. She contrasts a conventional concrete frame with a hybrid timber structure to show how the greener option, while pricier initially, can deliver better financing terms, lower energy bills, and stronger investor appeal over 60 years. For housing developers, the takeaway is that carbon performance is becoming a direct financial metric, not just a compliance checkbox. The piece urges the sector to shift from asking 'what is cheapest to build' to 'what will this asset cost over its full life cycle.'
