WHY GREEN BUILDINGS ARE IMPORTANT

Why Green Buildings Are Important?

A High Performance Green Building (HPGB) is a building with energy, economic, and environmental performance that is substantially better than standard practice, and can be measured to continuously operate at its optimal performance level.

Buildings categorised as HPGB will yield the following benefits:

• Most green buildings cost 0% - 4% more than conventional buildings, with the largest concentration of reported “green premiums” between 0% - 1%.
• Energy savings alone make green building cost effective.
• Green building design goals are associated with improved health and with enhanced worker performance.
• Green buildings create jobs by shifting spending from fossil fuel-based energy to domestic energy efficiency, construction, renewable energy and other green jobs.
• Green buildings are seeing increased market value (higher sales/rental rates, increased occupancy and lower turnover) compared to comparable conventional buildings.
• Roughly 50% of green buildings in the study’s data set see the initial “green premium” paid back by energy and water savings in five years or less.
• Green community design provides a distinct set of benefits to owners, residents and municipalities, including reduced infrastructure costs, transportation and health savings and increased property value.
• Upfront infrastructure development costs in conservation developments can be reduced by 25%.

(Research findings from Good Energies, read more at www.goodenergies.com)