Going Green Saves More Than Just the Environment

Still, many stereotypes stand in the way of greater adoption of eco-friendly development. Common consensus holds that green projects may have up to 18% higher up front expenses when compared to standard buildings with little to no energy efficiency improvements. This, in fact, is completely false. Most projects aiming to achieve LEED certification may only have to spend an additional 1% or perhaps not even that much.

This is because a decrease in both construction and operational costs can be seen with proper implementation of systems that allow for more efficient use of water and energy while reducing construction waste. In some cases this may allow for a reduction of up to 40% in both operational and construction costs.

The reduced cost of properly implemented select green building practices, such as advanced framing , may even be just the kind of economic stimulus the struggling home building business is looking for.  Cheaper green development could lead to a green building boom, and as the costs continue to come down as economies of scale are realized, banks may catch on as well and be more willing to take greater risks on such projects. Not only will this help improve the environment, but job creation and economic recovery would also be bolstered.

Many property development projects are delayed due to slow approval from zoning boards and city councils.   Being able to demonstrate environmental and energy efficiency benefits to these boards may very well garner larger public support for projects and place pressure on local legislatures to speed up approval. 

The builders and developers aren’t the only ones who benefit from building greener, healthier buildings.  Having a clean infrastructure and systems dedicated to help improve the work environment also benefits the end users of green buildings. Worker productivity is bound to increase due to the improved working conditions, which leads to untold economic rewards. Insurance premiums may also decrease as your workplace possesses less risk, and in today’s society, most importantly of all, the threat of litigation will be reduced potentially saving large sums of money.

Building codes and regulations tend to be fairly dynamic. As the green movement gains popularity, codes and regulations will reflect this. Having a building that’s well ahead of the curve will prevent expensive renovations and construction which may be required by law in the future.

Slowly, the shackles of negative publicity are being cast off energy efficient and sustainable development allowing for its uptake with a wider audience.  In the end, this will benefit us all.

(1) Comments