GOING GREEN $aves You Green

When trying to appease the environment, it has been the case, historically, that such a lofty pursuit drives up the cost of doing business. There is growing interest in a voluntary kind of environmental work that is still in its infancy stages in Indiana.

• Lower operating cost and increase asset value
• Reduced waste sent to landfills
• Less energy and water consumption

It might be presumed that installing environmentally friendly measures will escalate cost, but according to a 2007 study, there is no dramatic difference in average cost between green and non-green. The country's largest general builder Turner Construction Corporation is at the forefront in green building. Mike Kaiman, vice president/general manager of Turner Corporation's Indianapolis office, said green building cost one-half to 5 percent more than non-green construction.

Going Green has a remarkable financial advantage in operational cost.

 

"People start out thinking they will Going Green for the environment, it makes a lot of business sense as well. You are spending less on your operational and maintenance cost, and therefore profits are going up," said Bill Barnard, vice president of architecture at The Troyer Group.

 

It's hard to overlook, among the many striking advantages to Going Green, particularly how it takes less time to pay back upfront, cost compared to non-green building. Robert Koester, director of Center for Energy Research Education and Services at Ball State, said, the return in investment when green is around 7 percent, an amount that's consistent with stock, bonds, and DCs.

 

Not only is there a long-term cost saving by going green, there are other benefits. Studies have illustrated employee productivity and academic performance increase when working in a building where the air in cleaner and there's natural light. As a result, morale improves, absenteeism decreases, there are fewer sick days and health costs go down. There's also evidence to support claims that retail sales jump in stores where there's more natural light, and hospitals with elements of sustainable design experience earlier discharges, according to Koester.

 

"You are using less electricity and there's a reduction in your energy bill. When you go green, it pays for itself in the short and long term," he said.

 

Kaiman of Turner Construction predicts that 50 percent of all new commercial and industrial construction across the country within 10 year certified. Turner Construction believes its role as a green building to be critical in making sustainable design mainstream within the estimated $1 trillion building industry.

 

"We take pride in leading initiatives and being cutting-edge," Kaiman said. "We can be part of the future of having less waste going into landfills, using less energy and better utilization of resources. It's just the right thing to do."