The Recession and LEED® – Part 4

In the wake of extensive research reports from CoStar and Lockwood-Deloitte, the prognosis for existing buildings is not promising.  If these buildings do not adopt sustainable design, they will continue to diminish in value, waste considerable energy resources and pose serious environmental threats through their carbon emissions.

All building owners and developers should consider this data:

•    70 percent of all U.S. electricity is used in buildings
•    12 percent of the country’s potable water is used in buildings
•    30 percent of all American waste is accumulated in buildings
•    35 percent of all CO2 emissions are created by buildings
•    39 percent of all energy in the U.S. is consumed in buildings

More national energy is used in buildings than in cars, trucks, planes and all other forms of motorized transport combined.  Astoundingly, buildings use 12% more energy than the combined use of all forms of transport.

CO2 emissions from buildings have grown faster in the past 25 years than emissions from any other sector.

The Lockwood-Deloitte survey revealed that:

•    green building »”>Green building programs reduce energy use in buildings by 35-50 percent
•    Green building programs reduce carbon emissions by 35 percent
•    Water usage is reduced through sustainable design by 40 percent
•    Solid waste is usually reduced by as much as 70 percent

Green building owners are banking the reduced costs and are finding that their properties are sustaining their value.  When the recession ends, these properties will once again appreciate quickly.  Existing buildings that have not gone green will be outdated, in need of conversion and have values that continue to slide.

Times are tough and money is tight.  However, support from green initiatives comes from many sources including the Obama stimulus package and local governments and communities.  In the midst of the recession, green retrofits can be accomplished for very reasonable prices.  The competition for construction projects is driving costs lower and lower.  While property owners can always find reasons not to spend money, the recession may provide unique opportunities to make the move to sustainable design.

Tagged as: Energy resources, Enviromental products, Stimulus package