How to Fit Green into Your Budget—Daily Journal of Commerce

Too often the decision to build a green building comes down to the question "How much does green cost?"

Recent studies have shown the increase could be anywhere from 0 percent to 8 percent. Clearly there is a lot of room to maneuver within such a wide spread.

A more effective question is "Where do I want to invest the money I have?"

There are many benefits from using green building strategies — strategies that can save resources such as energy and water, or improve indoor air quality. The benefits are varied and will depend as much on the type of project you are building as any other factor. Here are a few examples:

Health care: The nursing shortage has made it imperative to create healthy, daylit working environments that can help hospitals recruit and retain staff. Competitive markets mean attracting patients by providing an environment where they can heal faster. Tight budgets mean that lower utility costs can enable investment in other areas.

Schools: Studies show that students perform better when daylighting and views are designed into the classroom. Teachers have said the quality of their classroom environment is more important to them than pay increases. Reduced utility bills can make more resources available for educational tools.

Commercial offices: Daylighting and good indoor air quality have been shown to improve productivity and reduce absenteeism. For every $1 reduction in utility bills, building valuations increase $7 to $10.

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