December 12th, 2017
Massachusetts is a leading state in the rapidly growing green building movement. Buildings consume 70% of the nation’s electricity and a large part of the materials, water and waste used and generated in our economy. Buildings have traditionally been viewed as a relatively static sector of the economy experiencing relatively little change in technology or resource consumption patterns. To date there has been a widespread perception that green buildings—though more attractive from an environmental and health perspective—are substantially more costly than conventional design and may not be justified from a cost benefits perspective. This perception has been the single largest obstacle to the more widespread adoption of green design. This paper reviews a major recent report on the issue of green building costs benefits, “The Costs and Benefits of Green Buildings,” Kats1 et al.,October 2003 2 (the Report). Led by Capital E, What are green buildings? “Green” or “sustainable” buildings use key resources like energy, water, materials, and land more efficiently than buildings that are just built to code. With more natural light and better air quality, green buildings typically contribute to improved employee and student health, comfort, and productivity. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), a national non-profit membership organization, developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) SystemTM to provide a guideline and rating system for green buildings.