135 Suggestions for how to address these issues tend to focus on introducing restrictions on non-sustainable business processes, materials and products over time. Given that the interests of designers, owners, outfitters, suppliers and others are frequently quite different when it comes to making decisions about what ends up included in interiors, achieving this will not be without its challenges. The cost of greener ships To be truly sustainable, any interior design project needs to be affordable to the client whilst at the same time not ‘costing the earth.’ Companies involved in the financial aspects of interiors report that the premium for sustainable solutions can add around 20 per cent to the overall cost of a project. This is daunting, particularly as there is always a need to account for the options chosen – and clients do not always appreciate the real value being added by green choices. Challenges include higher purchasing prices for materials that meet green standards and certifications; costlier transport for moving and storing items with reduced or no packaging; and increased labour resources needed to research materials and meet new installation requirements. These costs may be offset by savings in the long term from using recycled and/or sustainable materials, sourcing locally or regionally, lower energy consumption, reuse of materials and less frequent refurbishments. Although the short‐term upfront costs of material and construction for a green space may be higher, the long‐term costs could be lower because sustainability leads to repeated savings. Investment in energy‐saving systems like motion-detected lights and water faucets, for example, reduces energy and water consumption, leading to lower operating costs over time. Among the potential remedies for the high upfront costs for sustainability is the idea that ports might reduce port taxes for ships that meet certain sustainability criteria. This in turn would encourage operators to enhance their ships in sustainable ways to take advantage of this rebate. Perhaps this is only likely for sustainability factors that impact the port. In general, it seems that there is no way to avoid the initial pain of the cost premium for greener interiors and this is likely to be a barrier to entry for many companies. However, this could be easier to bear if it means that it enables further material and product development until the point is reached where the demand increases and the cost falls for sustainable items. To make this achievable, there needs to be a way for shipowners quantify the benefits from a cost perspective. If they can see true cost savings over time, then it is an easier sell. – “If we revisit our concept of ‘expensive,’ we find that sustainable interiors cost less to deliver as they deliver long-term gains ecologically, economically and in terms of wellbeing”
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