Long-lasting impact
The advantages of green building are abundant: when a green design is implemented, it lessens the overall impact to the environment. Energy and water consumption are reduced, natural resources are conserved and materials are re-used. Moreover, the materials used in green building are much less hazardous than other available options since they are created to meet environmental standards. Finally, as a whole, green building has a significant impact on the worldwide climate crisis.
Builders, contractors and building owners are also quickly realizing the additional economic and environmental benefits of this approach.
Economic benefits:
- Reduce operating costs
- Enhance asset value and profits
- Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
- Optimize life cycle economic performance
- Qualifying for various tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in many cities
- Become a selling point to potential buyers
- Increase the market for an engineer’s or contractor’s skills
- Lowering a building’s overall life cycle cost
Environmental benefits:
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce solid waste
- Conserve natural resources
- Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
Health and community benefits:
- Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
- Enhance occupant comfort and health
- Possibly limiting growth of mold and other airborne contaminants that can affect worker productivity and/or health
Source: Benefits of LEED certification, U.S. Green Building Council, www.usgbc.org.
