(task) Do Green Building Certifications Make Financial Sense? · Environmental Leader · Environmental Management & Sustainable Development News

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> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/04/16/do-green-building-certifications-make-financial-sense/ <http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/04/16/do-green-building-certifications-make-financial-sense/>
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> Do Green Building Certifications Make Financial Sense?
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> <http://www.environmentalleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/green-building.jpg>As Georgia moves closer to enacting a law that would effectively ban state-owned buildings from seeking LEED <http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/04/15/georgias-leed-ban-awaits-governors-signature/> certification, Valerie Molinski, sustainability director at Vocon <http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150406/BLOGS05/150409922/the-case-for-green-building-certifications>, a Cleveland architecture and interior design firm, makes the business case for green building <http://www.environmentalleader.com/category/green-building/> certification in a Crain’s Cleveland Business blog.
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> Basically it boils down to cost. Green buildings save money on operating costs, they sell for higher prices and they have a better return on investment than less efficient buildings.
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> Molinski cites a McGraw Hill Construction <http://www.environmentalleader.com/tag/McGraw-Hill-Construction/> study that found the ROI for green building owners improved by more than 19 percent on existing buildings and almost 10 percent on new construction projects.
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> Additionally, Energy Star <http://www.environmentalleader.com/tag/Energy-Star/> and LEED <http://www.environmentalleader.com/tag/LEED/> buildings improve rental rates to 20 percent above average and increase selling prices up to $20 per square foot more than buildings without certifications.
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> And because LEED-certified building use 25 percent less energy, they cut operating costs by 19 percent and reduce average water usage by 15 percent.
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> In addition to the explicit financial benefits, Molinski says green building certifications can give your brand a boost, differentiating it in the marketplace and helping to attract and retain clients and employees.
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> Plus, benchmarking adds credibility to your claims. Third-party verification provides proof that your building has achieved a certain level of sustainability — another public relations plus.
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> Molinski’s not alone in advocating for green building certification.
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> Some 96 percent of Fortune 200 companies <http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/04/15/fortune-200-companies-say-leed-positively-impacts-roi/#ixzz3XPRZUlmj> surveyed use the LEED green building program to support their sustainability efforts, according to a study published this week by USGBC and Keybridge.
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> The survey also found 60 percent believe LEED positively impacts their ROI and 70 percent stated they pursue LEED as a means to save money.
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> Takeaway: Green buildings save money on operating costs, they sell for higher prices and they have a better return on investment than less efficient buildings. Plus they can help improve branding and marketing efforts.
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