Why build green?

Enhance Productivity

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a determining factor in employee productivity. If air quality is compromised, employee health is in jeopardy and absenteeism increases.

Studies show that employees are more productive when working in an office that incorporates environmentally preferable design elements. In fact, productivity can increase by 6-16% with improved lighting and ventilation and the use of daylighting (Rocky Mountain Institute).

Companies typically spend 70 times as much per square foot on salaries as on energy. “If you make changes in your workplace that cause employee productivity to rise by just 1% by square foot, you will save more money than you pay for all other per square foot costs combined (rent, heat, lights, etc).”

Protect the Environment

Activities associated with operating commercial office buildings significantly contribute to environmental and health problems:

  • Buildings consume 30% of total energy and 60% of electricity generated in the U.S.
  • Lighting consumes 40% of the electricity used in buildings, with an additional 10% used just to cool the heat generated.
  • Computers and office-related equipment use almost half of all energy used in buildings
  • Designing green can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and their associated air emissions that cause global warming, acid rain and smog
  • On average, every $1 invested in energy efficiency prevents the release of 6.7 pounds of carbon dioxide per year

Achieve Financial Gains

Economic benefits of green buildings include:

  • Reduced capital costs
  • Reduced operating costs
  • Reduced long-term costs by designing for adaptability for future modification
  • Because improving the energy efficiency saves money, the increase in net operating income (cash flow) increases the building’s value
  • Energy, water, maintenance and disposal costs can all be dramatically reduced by using green design strategies. The savings flow directly to the bottom line by providing more net operating income for the owner/developer and leading to higher building valuation

Create a Competitive Advantage

Building owners and tenants prefer energy-efficient buildings that lower utility bills.

Marketing the environmental components in an office space may give a tenant an advantage when recruiting candidates or differentiating itself from other businesses in the same industry.

Green Buildings often lease faster than their traditional counterparts.

Nationally recognized awards, such as the EPA’s Energy Star® Award and US Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System, are used as effective marketing tools to attract tenants and building owners.