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Where Every Issue is a Green Issue| Providing Wisdom in Building a Sustainable Future | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cost of Green Revisited: Reexamining the Feasibility and Cost Impact of Sustainable Design in the Light of Increased Market Adoption Findings 1. Many projects are achieving LEED within their budgets, and in the same cost range as non-LEED projects. 2. Construction costs have risen dramatically, but projects are still achieving LEED. 3. The idea that green is an added feature continues to be a problem. Executive Summary The 2006 study shows essentially the same results as 2004: there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings. Many project teams are building green buildings with little or no added cost, and with budgets well within the cost range of non-green buildings with similar programs. We have also found that, in many areas of the country, the contracting community has embraced sustainable design, and no longer sees sustainable design requirements as additional burdens to be priced in their bids. Data from this study shows that many projects are achieving certification through pursuit of the same lower cost strategies, and that more advanced, or more expensive strategies are often avoided. Most notably, few projects attempt to reach higher levels of energy reduction beyond what is required by local ordinances, or beyond what can be achieved with a minimum of cost impact. The cost of documentation remains a concern for some project teams and contractors, although again, as teams become accustomed to the requirements, the concern is abating somewhat. We continue to see project teams conceiving of sustainable design as a separate feature. This leads to the notion that green design is something that gets added to a project - therefore they must add cost. This tendency is especially true for less experienced teams that are confronting higher levels of LEED certification (Gold and Platinum). Until design teams understand that green design is not additive, it will be difficult to overcome the notion that green costs more, especially in an era of rapid cost escalation. Average construction costs have risen dramatically the past three years - between 25% and 30%. And yet we still see a large number of projects achieving LEED within budget. This suggests that while most projects are struggling with cost issues, LEED is not being abandoned. Full Report |
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