Page 146 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

122 COSTS OF GREEN BUILDINGS

Figure 7.1 According to Davis Langdon’s research studies, green-certified
labs don’t have to cost more than conventional labs. Courtesy of Davis Langdon.

are doing” can in fact get these results, no matter what process they follow. What’s
needed is a substantial process change that works for the balance of building teams.
Lisa Matthiessen is an architect and senior consultant with Davis Langdon, an inter-
national cost management firm. Together with her colleagues at Davis Langdon, she
has prepared several dramatic costs studies of green buildings. Figure 7.1 shows the
results of one of those studies, in this case analyzing the costs of laboratory buildings.
The essential message is that you can’t tell the difference, in terms of cost per square
foot, between LEED-certified and non-certified buildings. This is an interesting study,
because it shows that “green” is a program issue, that is, if it’s an essential goal of a
project, there need be no cost premium. By contrast, when green is treated as an add-
on or afterthought, it’s likely going to cost more.
Matthiessen’s observation is that there is a strong link between the sophistication of
the design team, their knowledge of and commitment to integrated design, and the
eventual project cost.*

The cost to do LEED projects is comparable to non-LEED projects. It might cost
more sometimes, but it’s comparable and you usually end up making a trade-off.

*Interview with Lisa Matthiessen, March 2008.