Page 126 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

BENEFITS THAT BUILD A BUSINESS CASE 103

side, to become as knowledgeable about financial benefits and considerations as they
are about the technical issues concerning their own specialties. I have found profes-
sionals in all disciplines that are unable to clearly articulate the business side of green
buildings. In my view, a critical professional skill is to learn how your clients make
money and to become fluent in the language of business and investment. Most clients
take it for granted that you’ll be able to do a good job of design and construction.
However, they want you to understand and articulate the reasons for green building in
terms that make sense to them and which they can report to key people in their own
organization.
Table 6.1 presents a sample of the wide-ranging benefits of green buildings, exam-
ined in detail in the following sections.

TABLE 6.1 BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDINGS

1. Utility cost savings for energy and water, typically 30 to 50 percent, along with
reduced “carbon footprint” from energy savings
2. Maintenance cost reductions from commissioning, operator training, and other
measures to improve and ensure proper systems integration and ongoing perform-
ance monitoring
3. Increased value from higher net operating income (NOI) and increased public
relations for commercial buildings
4. Tax benefits for specific green building investments such as energy conservation
and solar power, and local incentives, depending on location
5. More competitive real estate holdings for private sector owners, over the long run,
including higher resale value (see the CoStar study cited earlier)
6. Productivity improvements for long-term building owners, typically 3 to 5 percent
7. Health benefits, including reduced absenteeism, typically 5 percent or more
8. Risk management, including faster lease up and sales for private developers, and
less risk of employee exposure to irritating or toxic chemicals in building materials,
furniture, and furnishings
9. Marketing benefits, especially for developers, large corporations, and consumer
products companies
10. Public relations benefits, especially for developers and public agencies
11. Recruitment and retention of key employees and higher morale
12. Fund raising for colleges and nonprofits
13. Increased availability of both debt and equity funding for developers
14. Demonstration of commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship;
shared values with key stakeholders