GO GREEN, SAVE GREEN … According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC,) Green Buildings consume less energy and fewer  resources. In comparison to the average commercial building, the benefits of Green Buildings are:

• Consume 25% less energy
• Have 13% lower maintenance costs
• Have 27% higher occupancy satisfaction
• Generate 33% less greenhouse gas emissions

Efficiency Retrofits for Commercial Buildings Could Save $41.1B

Energy retrofits are attractive for purposes of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, energy independence, green branding, property valuation, and productivity.

DID YOU KNOW … Existing Buildings Account for:

• 72% of electricity consumption
• 39% of all energy use
• 38% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
• 14% of all potable water

A study, conducted by the University of San Diego and commercial real estate broker CB Richard Ellis Group, found that:

• Tenants in green buildings reported an average of 2.88 fewer sick days in their current green office vs previous non-green office
• About 55% of respondents indicated that employee productivity had improved
• Decrease in sick days translated into a net impact of nearly $5.00/SF per year
• The increase in productivity translated into a net impact of about $20/SF

RISKS OF NOT GOING GREEN

Fireman’s Fund, AAA-rated insurer, sees risks associated with not going green:

• Risk of obsolescence – green buildings are the future Reputation and Transactions – green buildings have higher occupancy rates and rents
• Regulatory Risk – Conservation and efficiency codes are increasingly part of local,s tate and even federal codes

BUSINESS CASE FOR GREEN BUILDINGS

CLICK HERE for summary of McGraw-Hill Construction report, 2009

Financial Benefit                                         2005                   2008

Decreased Operating Costs                               8-9%                   13.6%
Increased Building Values                                7.5%                    10.9%
Improvement in ROI                                          6.6%                      9.9%
Increased Occupancy                                        3.5%                      6.4%
Rises in Rent                                                           3.0%                     6.2%

Source: McGraw-Hill Construction, Nov. 2009

BENEFITS OF GOING GREEN

From Deloitte Consulting ‘s 2008 report, in conjunction with John Lockhard, called “Dollars and Sense of Green Retrofitting”, July 2008

• 73% of respondents reported an actual cost savings resulting from the retrofit
• 93% of respondents reported a greater ability to attract talent
• 81% of respondents experienced an improvement in workforce productivity
• 75% of respondents reproted improvement in workforce productivity
• 100% of respondents experienced an increase in good will/brand equity
• Improvements in indoor environments are estimated to save $17 – $48 billion in total health gains and $20 – $160 billion in worker performance

The Bottom Line from Deloitte –

Companies that want to stay ahead of the Green Regulatory curve, reap the many green building benefits and remain competitive in the marketplace should implement green retrofits their work places sooner rather than later. All things considered, we believe the business imperative is clear: The earlier a company adopts green building practices, the bigger the gains it stands to reap.