There are many benefits to building green. In the most basic terms, the benefits break down into three main categories:

• Environmental Benefits which reduce your impact on the environment
• Economic Benefits which improve your bottom line
• Health and Safety Benefits which enhance your occupants’ comfort

This triple bottom line means if you build green, everyone benefits.

According to the USGBC, the average savings of green buildings breakdown as follows:

The hard number benefits include:

• Reduced operating costs
• Reduced or neutralized first costs
• Enhanced asset value and increased profits
• Optimized life cycle economic performance

The soft number benefits include:

• Improve productivity: Estimated $29 – 168 billion in national productivity losses per year
• Reduce absenteeism and turnover: Providing a healthy workplace improves employee satisfaction
• Reduce liability: Improve risk management
• Increase retail sales with day lighting: Studies have shown an approximate 40% improvement

Lastly, the benefits for owners and managers of a LEED certified green building may include:

• Improved building performance (easy to maintain and improve over time)
• Reduced cost streams associated with building operations
• Reduced environmental impacts
• Healthier and more productive employee workspaces
• Public recognition for leadership in sustainability