Green Leases and Green Leasing: A Terminological Overview of Academia and Practice

Purpose: Through the use of existing literature and desk research from academia and practice, this paper will outline the degree to which there is a difference between the terms ‘Green Leasing’ and ‘Green Leases’ in academia and practice. Over the last decade, Green Leases have become an increasing recognised and applied method by which to improve the sustainability of building stock. However, a lack of research into the differences between the terms ‘Green Leasing’ and ‘Green Lease’ have the potential to stifle a consistent use of these terms. This paper endeavours to better establish this difference in order to provide credibility in the usage of both terms. Methodology: The data for this paper was accumulated through sourcing academic literature (mainly from academic peer reviewed journals) where Green Leasing and Green Leases are of a primary or substantial focus. The analysis establishes how each paper uses each of these terms. Practice based literature will be sourced and analysed similarly in order to establish better definitions of Green Leases and Green Leasing. Key findings: This paper establishes (with some noted exceptions), that the terms ‘Green Leases’ and ‘Green Leasing’ are used in both forms of literature in a manner that is relatively close to the dictionary definition terms of ‘Lease’ and ‘Leasing’. With these findings in mind, it is established that a Green Lease is the lease document itself, whilst Green Leasing is the process of renting and operating a rented sustainable building that may or may not have a Green Lease. Impact of Study: This study has the potential to affect the terminological uses of both terms in order to provide consistency that will benefit both market penetration and academic research and dissemination. This study is also applicable outside the field of real estate, as it also has a relevance to the study and practice of law, Sustainable Facilities Management (SFM), architecture and the study of the built environment more broadly.