Green Buildings Cost 25% Less to Operate

green building

by | Jan 5, 2015

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green buildingGreen buildings cost less to operate and have a smaller carbon footprint, according to the US General Services Administration.

Buildings.com reports on a post-occupancy evaluation study of 22 green federal buildings conducted by GSA and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The study compared one year of operating data and surveys of green building occupants, compared to the national average of commercial buildings. It found green government buildings:

  • Cost 19 percent less to maintain
  • Use 25 percent less energy and water
  • Emit 36 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions
  • Have a 27 percent higher rate of occupant satisfaction

Another study, released last month, found certified commercial green buildings on average cut greenhouse gas emissions from water consumption by 50 percent, reduced solid waste management-related GHG emissions by 48 percent and lowered transportation-related GHG emissions by 5 percent, when compared to their traditional California counterparts, according to a study.

The study, conducted by the Center for Resource Efficient Communities at UC Berkeley, evaluated the performance of more than 100 commercial buildings throughout California certified as LEED under the 2009 Existing Building Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) rating system. While typical studies of LEED buildings focus on reduced energy consumption only, this one examined several other climate-related impacts.

 

 

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