by Rebecca Walker — November 26, 2010—In their latest survey on the perceived benefits of green buildings, CB Richard Ellis, the University of San Diego’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and McGraw-Hill Construction find that sustainably managed buildings continue to provide better value, occupancy rates and worker productivity than traditional structures.
The project partners released details of their report The Business Benefits of Green Buildings SmartMarket Report, at the Greenbuild conference in Chicago.
To compile the report—an update of the 2009 study Do Green Buildings Make Dollars and Sense?—researchers examined more than 150 office buildings in 11 top U.S. markets.
According to the report, owners of sustainably managed buildings anticipate a 4 percent higher return on investment, 5 percent increases in building value and occupancy, 8 percent drops in operating costs, and a 1 percent rise in rental income.
About 79 percent of owners surveyed said they believe eco-friendly buildings help them attract and retain tenants and competitive advantage, especially in tough financial times. More than 70 percent said a significant portion of the property portfolio is being greened.
Respondents also cited benefits to occupants’ health, productivity and satisfaction, with 10 percent of green building tenants saying they have noted improvement in worker productivity, and none reported decreases. Also, 94 percent of managers said they have noticed higher satisfaction levels after green projects and 83 percent of tenants believe they have a healthier indoor environment as a result of green efforts.
For information about how to obtain the study, see the Web site.
