A home's sustainable features should be considered as part of property valuations according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.<br> <br> <br> Launching its Sustainability and Residential Property information paper, RICS said that currently sustainability was not seen as important in terms of property value. But as sustainability concerns become increasingly more important to government, property valuers should become familiar with the sustainable properties of buildings, RICS advised.<br> <br> <br> RICS suggested that valuers should refer to sustainability metrics if available, and gather specific sustainability information on the particular property to help provide a framework for valuing sustainable homes.<br> <br> <br> "With the increased emphasis on green living and energy efficiency, it is highly possible that the market will need to adapt," said Ben Elder, RICS' global director of valuation. "This new information paper offers advice to our members, recommending that they are fully aware of sustainability policy and the characteristics of individual<br> buildings when valuing property."<br> <br>