The True Cost of Green Design

By George Wilson, LEED AP, AIA NCARB
Principal, Meyer Architects, Inc.

Meyer Associates’ Principal of Architecture, George T. Wilson is an accredited LEED professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a founding member and officer of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley chapter of US Green Building Council.

These days it seems like everyone wants to take part in preserving the environment. From recycling newspapers to using wind energy to driving Hybrid cars, there are many ways each one of us can contribute to improving the environment.

Although most companies know that sustainable / green design can contribute greatly to conserving the earth's energy resources and also save money over a period of time, what they may not know is that the upfront costs of sustainable green design are no longer a hefty price to pay.

The biggest myth about green design is that it's very expensive. As LEED and sustainable design become more mainstream in the business world, the costs will continue to decrease.

The state of California's Sustainable Building Task Force study (SBTF) that was recently released studied 33 projects that used the USGBC LEED rating system. The study indicated the average cost for green buildings is less than 2% more or about $5.00 per square foot more for the Gold and Platinum buildings. For Certified and Silver buildings the additional cost was .66% to 1.9% more. The average cost remains in the 2% range.

In our observations at Meyer Associates, Inc., we've found there are many sustainable / green products that can be included in the design of a building with no additional cost at all:

• It typically does not cost more to situate a building in the more efficient position on a North/South axis and it can result in substantial savings in the building's heating and cooling systems.
• Vinyl wall coverings made from a high percentage of recycled products are actually becoming more mainstream and have many appealing designs.
• Carpet tiles are developed with a high recycled content. There are also a number of companies that will recycle your existing tile and broadloom carpet for no additional cost. This is a win-win for both the demolition contractor and the building owner to be able to recycle the existing carpet and replace it with a sustainable product.
• Many companies now have higher ceilings with indirect fluorescent lighting, which simulates natural light, reduces glare and diminishes eye fatigue. The cost of these fixtures has come way down. The installation costs are equal or less than the installation of typical 2 x 4 down lights. Indirect lighting is a much healthier type of lighting with significant energy savings.
• Water saving urinals are less expensive and also save 30-40% of water over a typical piped urinal.
• There are a number of companies that produce ceiling tiles made with very high amounts of recycled product and cost the same as typical ceiling tiles. This is a good way to be sustainable in the design process and also not incur extra costs.

We have found in our own project experience that it really is easy being "green." Together with Liberty Property Trust, Meyer Associates, Inc. is aiming for a LEED Gold rating under the LEED Core and Shell Pilot Program for 151 South Warner Road, a reconstruction project. It is amazing how once we made the decision to design and develop a building using sustainable guidelines, the process became simple with very little cost impact to the building design. We find this at 151 with a number of elements such as the cost of the upgraded roof insulation, the energy efficient plumbing fixtures, and the windows and glass in the building, which tend to pay for themselves in a very short period of time even down to the CO2 censors on the mechanical units.

No matter how you look at it, green design is a win-win solution. The additional 2% you may spend on designing a green space will pay you back through tremendous cost savings by conserving energy. Your space will be healthier for your employees, clients and the environment. How can you lose?