In an increasingly green marketplace, everything, it seems, has to be environmentally friendly…

Organic food is in, irradiated and GM is out. Recycling is good while waste is unforgivable. Everything from using more public transport to fitting insulation and using energy-saving light bulbs has been caught under the green umbrella.

Many still resist the temptation to give up flying, but those who are conscious of their carbon footprint yet don't want to ditch the foreign holiday are taking advantage of the new Eurostar service to head for the continent, according to French property website VEF.

Founder and managing director of the firm Trisha Mason said the Channel Tunnel link, plus the 186mph TGV train service inside France helped attract precisely this market, making parts of France ideal for investors interested in capturing the green market.

She said: "Eighty-four per cent of our clients who visited our partner office in Burgundy in 2007 said that this was a prime factor in them choosing this area."

Eco friendly tourists

Green travel possibilities are not the only ways in which the eco-friendly tourist may be served by investors. The properties themselves are becoming greener in many instances.

One such case is that of Spain. The government recently announced moves to provide €1 billion (£719 million) in grants to homeowners to make their older properties more eco-friendly, with €2 billion in credit every year to make homes more energy-efficient.

Signalling his intention, prime minister Jose Zapatero said: "All the lights are flashing red. We are at the point of no return. I ask all citizens to act with urgency and to put this country at the forefront of the challenge to fight climate change."

Mr Zapatero pledged to do more if his government stays in power after the next Spanish general election. In the meantime, developers of new properties in Spain are obliged to ensure between 30 and 70 per cent of their hot water using solar thermal power.

Eco-conscious market

With environmental issues being a worldwide concern, governments everywhere are seeking to ensure developers create greener properties. In India, often seen as a growing source of pollution as its economy grows rapidly while enjoying Kyoto exemption, Pune Municipal Corporation has announced that builders in the city will get between five and ten per cent off the rateable values for property built using eco-build techniques, such as fitting rainwater collection facilities and solar panels, reports the Times of India.

For investors, these trends mean the market is falling into line with other areas of economic activity, with the high levels of government support given to eco-building and home improvements reflecting the reality that buildings produce a much higher proportion of emissions than aircraft. All this promises that those looking to invest in such properties overseas will be able to serve an eco-conscious market, not to mention ensuring they themselves are keeping it green.