"Actual Costs - Is Building Green Too Expensive?", excerpt from Building Green in a Black and White World by David Johnston. Geared towards construction professionals and homeowners, this article is filled with practical advice and examples.
Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) from the
U.S.
government's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A design tool used to measure the "environmental performance of building products by using the environmental life-cycle assessment approach specified in ISO 14000 standards. Economic performance is measured using the ASTM standard life-cycle cost method, which covers the costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal."
Building Green on a Budget from Environmental Building News, Volume 8, No. 5 -- May 1999. Many of the design and building practices that are described in the pages of EBN or advocated by a growing cadre of environmentally conscious designers and builders cost no more than conventional practice. Indeed, some cost less.
California Sustainability and Financial Incentives from the State of California. Incentives cover areas of Energy, Water, Materials, Siting, Green Building, Landscaping and Transportation. This list will be updated quarterly and does not claim to contain all existing funding options.
Cost of Exhaust-Only Ventilation from Oikos Green Building Source. A helpful explanation of how much exhaust-only ventilation costs.
Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Building from Capital E. A report to over 40 California state agencies provides the first rigorous assessment of the costs and benefits of green buildings.
Economizer system cost effectiveness: accounting for the influence of ventilation rate on sick leave. Proceedings of the Healthy Buildings 2003 Conference. Study by Fisk, Huang, Faulkner, and Seppanen, 2003.
Energy Finance Solutions and Incentives Links to useful resources about financing and incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for the home, business, industry, utilities, and government.
Environmental and Economic Assessment Tools from the California Integrated Waste Management Authority. Includes BEES 2.0, The Green Building Advisor, The Green Building Resource Guide, and more.
Financial Value Calculator from ENERGY STAR®. Use the financial value calculator to present a compelling business case for energy investments to senior management.
Financing from U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Program. Describes a variety of financing mechanisms, including internal funds, debt financing, lease or lease-purchase agreements, energy performance contracts, and utility incentives.
Financing and Incentives for Commercial PV Systems from National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Links to a variety of incentive programs available for commercial building owners who want to invest in a PV system.
Green Building Advisor from Building Green and Design Harmony. Database of design strategies to improve environmental performance and cost-effectiveness. Several case studies are included.
Landscaping for Energy Savings from Sustainable Building Sourcebook. Includes definitions, considerations, commercial status, implementation issues, guidelines, and resources.
Life Cycle Analysis of a Residential Home in Michigan(.pdf file) from the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, by Steven Blanchard and Peter Reppe, explores the costs associated with residential energy consumption and presents an analysis of the effectiveness of energy efficiency strategies for the home.
Low Cost/No Cost Options for Sustainable Homes (.pdf file) from the National Center for Appropriate Technology. This 4-page handout helps developers of affordable homes apply sustainable design strategies to existing plans or building projects already in process.
Oregon Study Estimates Cost of Energy Code from Oikos Green Building Source. In 1992, a new building code took effect in the state of Oregon, which was projected to reduce heating costs by 30 to 40 percent. Increasing energy efficiency requirements caused many builders to worry that costs would climb more than the market could bear. A study performed by the Oregon State University Extension Energy Program should put those fears to rest.
Private Sector Pioneers: (.pdf file) How Companies are Incorporating Environmentally Preferable Purchasing from the Environmental Protection Agency. While many of the companies in this case study adopted environmentally friendly purchasing practices to improve the environment, this report examines some of the “traditional” business reasons, including: responding to consumer interest in environmentally friendly products and practices, distinguishing a company and product from its competitor, purchasing cost savings, and joining an industry trend.
"Quantifying the Business Benefits of Sustainable Buildings: Summary of Existing Research Findings, DRAFT for discussion" by Alan Yates, 2001, Building Research Establishment, Centre for Sustainable Construction. A report prepared as the first stage in a project to define the business benefits arising from sustainable business techniques through case studies.
QuikScope Software designed for owners and property managers who are looking to make their properties more energy efficient, profitable and valuable.
Solar Benefits Model User’s Guide from the Department of Energy. Use this model before or during the construction of a new home to estimate the economic benefits of installing a solar water-heating system.
Solar Can Save $$$ in a Blackout from National Renewable Energy Laboratory. While public officials and politicians are trying to figure out how to prevent electricity “blackouts,” many renewable energy proponents say that the use of solar could have prevented many of these losses and should be considered for backup power in the future.
The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings (.pdf file) a Report to California's Sustainable Building Task Force, October 2003. Demonstrates conclusively that sustainable building is a cost-effective investment, and its findings should encourage communities across the country to “build green.” Includes LEED building analysis.
Value at Risk: Climate Change and the Future of Governance (.pdf file) A CERES Sustainable Governance Project Report prepared by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, Inc. Part of a series of research papers that explore the convergence of best practice in sustainability and corporate governance.
Water Budget from Sustainable Building Sourcebook. Includes definitions, considerations, commercial status, implementation issues, guidelines, and resources.
Construction Site Waste: A New
Profit
Center
from Oikos Green Building Source. With disposal fees steadily rising in most of the country, some builders have begun viewing their debris as something to be managed rather than simply discarded. This site shows how a realistic waste management strategy can provide both short-term and long-term payoffs.
"Daylighting in Schools: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Daylighting and Human Performance" (follow links to download) Heschong et. al., 1999, Heschong Mahone Group. This study looks at the effect of daylighting on human performance. It includes a focus on skylighting as a way to isolate daylight as an illumination source, and separate illumination effects from other qualities associated with daylighting from windows.
Effects of Natural Light on Building Occupants (.pdf file) from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This paper presents summary information from a noncritical literature review on daylighting in buildings.
Energy Efficiency Makes Homes More Affordable (.pdf file) from Southface Energy Institute. An Atlanta community found that the annual energy bills for newly constructed, affordable homes averaged over $1,200. Increasing the energy efficiency of homes saved over $400 a year and added less than $500 to construction costs.
Energy Efficiency Pays (.pdf file) from Southface Energy Institute. Describes how “champions” of successful affordable housing programs incorporate a systems approach to improving energy efficiency and emphasize the need for careful planning, training, and quality control during construction.
Energy Management and Investor Returns: The Real Estate Sector (.pdf file) from ENERGY STAR®. A financial research firm analyzed relative energy efficiency and energy management performance in the real estate sector. The study found that leaders in energy management achieved superior stock market and financial performance.
Energy Management and Investor Returns: The Retail Food Sector (.pdf file) from ENERGY STAR®. A financial research firm analyzed relative energy efficiency and energy management performance in the retail food chain sector. The study found that leaders in energy management achieved superior stock market and financial performance.
Energy Management and Investor Returns: The Retail Merchandising Sector (.pdf file) from ENERGY STAR®. A financial research firm analyzed relative energy efficiency and energy management performance in the retail merchandising sector. The study found that leaders in energy management achieved superior stock market and financial performance.
"Windows and Classrooms: A Study of Student Performance and the Indoor Envrionment" (follow links to download) from Heschong et. al., 1999, Heschong Mahone Group. This study investigates whether daylight and other aspects of the indoor environment in elementary school student classrooms have an effect on student learning, as measured by their improvement on standardized math and reading tests over an academic year.