The LEED Certification Process – Part 2: Long-term Benefits
Last month, we looked at the different types of LEED certification. This month, we will look at the long-term benefits of several elements of the LEED certification process. The long-term benefits are both tangible and intangible, and this blog post will touch on a few of these benefits. The total number of long-term benefits greatly exceeds the ones mentioned in this post. Furthermore, while some benefits are universal to the certification process, some benefits are unique to certain parts.
One of the most tangible benefits that is associated with the LEED certification process is lower operating costs and lower energy bills. Over time, these benefits are multiplied. According to the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), LEED buildings normally have a rate of return of at least twenty percent. This rate is based on energy efficiency combined with projections about the future higher costs of oil and natural gas.
Most buildings that have been involved with the certification process use thirty to fifty percent less water and electricity than buildings that have been built to the current codes in most cities. When values are assigned to this idea, the savings are astounding. For instance, if a LEED certified building saves $1.50 per square foot when compared to a building that has been built to code, that is a yearly savings of $150,000 per year if the building is 100,000 square feet. If the contractor invested $400,000 into the project to make it LEED certified, he or she would get back their initial investment in about two and a half years.
Some returns on the LEED investment seem intangible but when evaluated are actually tangible. For instance, when a building has earned LEED certification, it is a healthier place to be, and thus the people who work there and the other occupants are happier and healthier. This seems like an intangible benefit, but it is very tangible as well. The building owner can look forward to employing an employee base that uses fewer sick days and is more productive overall.
An intangible benefit to the process is improved public relations. The building owner will have an easier time engaging with the community and promoting their building’s agenda when they can clearly promise the community that their building offers benefits to both the environment and the community. This intangible benefit can have a lasting effect on the building’s value and the public’s perception of it.
When you look at a specific element of the process, it is easier to evaluate the potential cost benefit of it. For instance, many builders earn LEED points by creating green roofs. There are a number of different roofing materials and strategies that can make a roof qualify for LEED points, such as applying reflective PVDF coating to a roof. When the cost benefits of this roofing material are analyzed, it appears that it will save the building operators a lot of money in both operating costs and repair costs.
When a building has a PVDF reflective roof, it does not wear as quickly, and it requires less maintenance. In addition, it does not need to be replaced as soon as a conventional roof would need to be replaced. This presents a cash savings for the buildings owner, but it also presents an environmental benefit for the community. With fewer replacements, fewer old roofs are sent to landfills. It can be exposed to lower temperatures than most traditional roofing, and its temperature does not fluctuate as much as many other roofs’ temperatures do. It also helps to reduce the effect of a so-called heat island effect in urban areas. Although the benefits of using PVDF are substantial, it is not the only roofing material that earns LEED points, and it may not be the right choice for your project. To determine which roof is right for you, you may wish to speak with a LEED certified consultant from Burnham Nationwide.
Many of these points are only applicable to new buildings. However, there is also a LEED process for existing buildings. LEED-EB can be earned in a variety of ways, and all of these measures have long-term benefits. For instance, if a building earns their LEED-EB by installing equipment that lasts longer, they will save money on equipment replacement costs. If they earn it by making changes to their operating procedures, they will save money on that as well. For instance, if part of their plan includes turning off equipment when not in use, they will notice an instant and prolonged savings in their energy bills.
Perhaps, the most significant long-term benefit of the LEED certification process is the potential for its effect on the building’s resale value. Some analysts claim that a LEED certified building could garner a selling price of thirty percent more than a regular building. This is an indicator of the true long-term value of certification.
Related Posts:
Tags: LEED Certification, LEED certification process, LEED Consulting, Sustainablity. LEED Accredited professional