| Energy savings, higher productivity and less waste. | | | | building owner knows there is a return on investment |
| These are but a few of the many attributes towards | | | | of 40 percent going into a green building, as the |
| implementing green building concepts and practices. | | | | investments are taken from capital; however, the |
| These days, because of programs like the U.S. Green | | | | year-to-year, the operating budget isn't linked, and |
| Building Council's landmark LEED rating system for | | | | that poses a real stumbling block. For the past years, |
| buildings, the ideas and concepts of green building | | | | many entities have discussed and analyzed what it |
| have now entered the mainstream. | | | | actually costs to build green and the ultimate value |
| Currently, sustainable development analysts have | | | | that results from constructing an environmentally |
| noted that there are around 500 million square feet | | | | responsible, high-performing facility in hopes of |
| of green buildings under design, development, and | | | | convincing the facilities industry to rethink |
| implementation, and there has been a lot of success | | | | construction budgeting and financing. |
| in LEED applications in different industries and sectors. | | | | The Attributes Of Green Building Designs |
| The Challenges Toward Widespread Acceptance of | | | | Home builders and developers who have embraced |
| Green Building Ideas | | | | the concepts of eco-friendly building, say that the |
| Despite the rising acceptance in the concepts of | | | | four attributes of green building design, which are |
| sustainable building, there still remains a large challenge | | | | increased ventilation control, enhanced temperature |
| toward widespread acceptance and long-term | | | | control, enhanced lighting control, and increased |
| practice, and despite the growing awareness in | | | | daylighting, have been clearly and significantly |
| sustainable practices, green products, and | | | | correlated with increased levels in productivity. |
| high-performance technologies in building design and | | | | Many note that indoor air quality also has been linked |
| construction, many worry that there continues to be | | | | to potential productivity and health gains in |
| a lack of accurate, thorough, and quantifiable | | | | workplaces and educational facilities, which helps to |
| information regarding the financial and economic | | | | explain that the greatest advantages of green |
| impacts of high-performance buildings within the | | | | building come in the form of benefits to the |
| construction and home building industry. In addition, | | | | occupants. The other financial benefits of green |
| there are also hurdles when it comes to the | | | | buildings are more than 10 times the average initial |
| perception of cost, which has become a stumbling | | | | investment required to design and construct a green |
| block in the quicker acceptance of green building | | | | building. Construction industry insiders say that for |
| concepts. | | | | energy savings alone, these exceed the average |
| According to some sustainable development | | | | increased cost associated with going green, and the |
| purveyors, there's a consistent disconnect between | | | | benefits and savings mark the true value of |
| capital costs and operating costs, as for instance, a | | | | sustainable construction. |