Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Cost of Green Design
The web has more information than a person even knows what to do with it. I have been researching my topic this way in hopes of realizing why consumers don't choose green. The amount of material out there claims everything from it's cheaper to build green to it's 20% more expensive to build green. I have finally found some reliable resources, mostly issued from the green building council and state agencies, that have taken a real look at what these actual costs are. What I am finding is that there is no easy way for a consumer to make an educated decision when building a new home. There are more myths than truths. In order to make a green home, everyone needs to be on the same page. The client, the architect, the builder all need to work together to set priorities for the budget. Looking at siting, plantings and window placement will allow for a smaller HVAC system allowing more money to be spent on, say, solar energy. This type of planning ahead will allow for a "cheaper" design in the end. I want to look at these options and how working together will actually create a cost efficient design for the client. The myth that green buildings are more expensive will be proven inaccurate. Green building, when planned correctly, can cost the same upfront and save thousands in the future.
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4 comments:
Annie
There are a lot of products (i.e. low VOC paints) on the market already. Some of these products are replacing older less green alternatives. As an industry we are moving in the right direction every day. If you could outline some data that could be utilized to pursuade an owner to change their approach, that could be very beneficial to the environment. I would think the USGBC has spent a considerable amount of time on this subject. You could also approach the building product manufacturer's for their data (though you will have to look at thier data a little more skeptically). Great Topic!
Annie,
I've been establishing the Sustainable Architecture department for our office in Florida. It is hard work and never ending learning of how the systems work and its implementation. One of my current tasks is to develop presentations to existing and potential clients as well as staff as to why Green design, how to approach it and when to get started.
The first challenge has been to try to educate all on the fact that this is not a trend, but the future. The presentation to the client is nothing more that describing the process of integrated design and its advantages to cost effective green design. The USGBC is a great resource and it offers lots of information on how and where to be cost effective. Here is an example, if you are able to get platinum rating on a project, then the entire certification fee is returned to the developer (client), depending on the size of the project this could be as much as $22,000 dollars. Low VOC paints and adhesives are already enforced in 18 districts of the south and west coast. Cities like Hong Kong were having huge problems with smog and are developing their own regulation. Hong Kong Disney started the new green benchmark for Disney, therefore Disney is going green and its going to make all of their properties green using the Hong Kong regulation. I obtained the Disney information through a recent PPG lecture I attended. Whether is a house or a government project, Integrated design is the tool for sucess. Companies like HOK and NBBj have numerous examples of how you could get creative to incorporate water conservation ponds for irrigation, control of light pollution, recyclable use of existing buildings, etc. If you become a member of the USGBC and local chapters it would open a lot of resources for data.
There is always the issu of initial building cost. For example Building Integrated Photovoltaic aren't cheaper than, lets say standing seam. But the client needs to be informed about how much they can save in energy costs on the long run. The key for manufacturers will be to advertise themselves and get out. Sustainable technology shouldn't be so "exclusive" and difficult to obtain. It should be out there on every shelve ,Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes,etc. oh and maybe they should advertise on the Super Bowl.
If you made a list of what a non green residential building would cost next to a green building, you might not convince anyone to go green. If you were to compare the usages lets say 20 years from now, you should be able to convince all of your clients to go green. If I knew how much I would save in 10,20, or 50 years from now by going green, I would make the investment. Not only savings in my pocket but savings for my great grandchildren.
Good Luck with your paper, I will be looking forward to reading it.
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