The Green Building Bottom Line (GreenSource Books; Green Source) : The Real Cost of Sustainable Building

Book excerpt: What are the real costs and real benefits of building green? As any builder knows, cost estimation and reality are often two very different things. The Green Building Bottom Line makes the case for green building by providing the insights and data that demonstrate the true costs and benefits of building green. It's a “why to” and a “how to” that explores everything from the ground up. The Green Building Bottom Line puts an entire development team at the table to better understand both the issues encountered and what's behind the perceived price premium for building green. This candid and transparent account explores every aspect of green development on groundbreaking projects, from the nation's first all-retail LEED core and shell project to an innovative multitenanted LEED-Existing Buildings office project, to a mixed-use hotel-retail-condo project in a transitional urban market. The authors focus on such issues as values, culture, life-cycle costs, insurance, financing, coordinating a team, marketing, and negotiating leases. Includes: Detailed case studies of green-building projects, start to finish Information on financial, legal, and operational aspects of the job The real-world costs of green building-not unrealistic estimates A behind-the-scenes look at the LEED building process Unique insight from those who have actually done the work The Green Building Bottom Line covers: • Economical and ecological benefits • Auditing sustainability in existing buildings • Financial benefits of green tenancy • Loan analysis • Insurance underwriting • Expense reduction • Writing a green lease • Converting an existing building • Green retail • Brokering sustainability • Marketing • HR practices and processes