Opting for a Green Certificate: The Impact of Local Attitudes and Economic Conditions

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the impact of economic conditions and local attitudes on investors’ decisions to opt for a green building certificate. The results indicate that green building certification is not only responsive to economic conditions but also to the attitudes of the local population. Areas with well-educated people and a political preference for the Democratic Party significantly and positively influence the decision to certify buildings. Higher education levels and Democratic partisanship are associated with the environmental orientation of the population. Hence, in these locations, the population's environmental concerns may play a key role.