While LEED construction has soared in the commercial market the residential market is just catching up. But if you think buying a green home is just about the energy savings here are a few reasons why a LEED certified home is the best investment you can make.
- Our LEED homes are priced at market rate; there is no premium attached for the energy efficient features and appliances, air quality controls and non-toxic finishes.
- Just because oil prices are going down doesn't mean electricity will. In fact projected rate increases have nothing to do with the cost of oil or inputs. Deregulation of the energy market has resulted in rate increased between 20-70%.
- Lastly, energy efficiency is not the only or primary benefit of LEED construction. John Gattuso, senior VP of urban and national development for Liberty Property Trust says that "productivity is the key, it's more important than energy costs and the environmental footprint, both of which are also critical." Gattuso is referring to the business case for green building, which results in improved air quality. This improvement according to a Department of Energy Study showed the average productivity gain is 15%. Even a conservative improvement of 1% results in a staggering productivity gain of $600 per employee.
- Gattuso also predicted a bifurcation of class A buildings, dividing sustainable design from those that are not. In other words, LEED buildings will be worth more.
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