Valuing Green Building

2008-07-03

Valuing Green Building

By: Constantine A . Valhouli

June 2008

Given that buildings account for one-third of all energy and water consumed in the United States, there is increased interest in “going green” as energy prices continue to rise. The benefits of sustainable structures range from quantifiable energy and water savings—to the “brand” benefits brought about by actual stewardship of environmental resources. Yet, there are those in the real estate and financial communities who still have questions about whether these benefits outweigh the slightly higher initial costs of green buildings compared with conventional buildings. “There is a strong business case for high-performance buildings,” maintains Brenna S. Walraven, executive managing director of San Antonio, Texas–based USAA Real Estate and chair of the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA).