GSA: "Green Buildings Pay Off"

A provocative issue within the green building movement has always been: are these green buildings really sustainable? Are they saving energy and money? Are the occupants happier and healthier? What are the real benefits to owners, occupants and the environment?

These very issues were recently addressed in a white paper released by the General Services Administration (GSA). For more than a decade, GSA, the real estate arm of the Federal government responsible for housing federal agencies, has been pursuing sustainable building practices. Their findings on green building performance cut through the conjecture and demonstrated bona fide benefits from going green.

The study compared 22 green buildings to the average commercial facility in the United States and found that the green buildings are producing results. These include:

• a 19% reduction in maintenance costs 
• a 25% savings in energy and water 
• a 36% reduction in CO2 emissions 
• 27% more occupants were satisfied with their space

These numbers establish real results for sustainable building practices and provide even more incentive to push for these numbers to become even higher.

For more information, follow the link below, and click on ‘white paper’ at the bottom of the article.

http://gsablogs.gsa.gov/gsablog/2011/10/24/commitment-to-green-building-practices-pays-off/