As we head into the New Year, the challenges faced by the construction industry are greater than previously experienced.

A summary of the Federal government mandates and orders requiring energy and sustainability performance in Federal Buildings.

For construction, as with the wider economy, the future is uncertain.

Overall, construction markets and escalation in the second quarter of 2008 will experience a high degree of uncertainty and volatility.

Escalation planning will be very difficult for the next two to three years as escalation becomes more unpredictable and reactive to external factors.

It is clear from the substantial weight of evidence in the marketplace that reasonable levels of sustainable design can be incorporated into most building types at little or no additional cost.