Overview

Sustainable Design (also referred to as “green design”, “eco-design”, or “design for environment”) is the art of designing to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability. The essential aim of sustainable design is to produce places, products and services in a way that reduces use of non-renewable resources, minimizes environmental impact, and relates people with the natural environment. It is a growing trend within the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and engineering. For many small business owners, sustainable design is simply code for expensive or placing the burden of the environment on the shoulders of small business.  However, sustainable design also has some significant direct benefits for business owners in the place that matters the most - the business’ bottom line. Here’s how . . . .

Asset Value: Sustainable design facilities also benefit small business owners by increasing real estate values. Given the choice between an older facility and one that has been retrofitted with sustainable design features, buyers are more likely to purchase the retrofit - even if it means shelling out a little more upfront. Why? Because savvy buyers know that sustainable design facilities usually pay for themselves in the long run. If you plan to lease part of your facility, sustainable design features are attractive to tenants as well.

Operating Costs: The single most important financial incentive for sustainable design is lower operating costs. Upfront expenses typically account for less than 15% of the total costs in the life of a building. More than 85% of the costs are in operating expenses related to owning the building. Today’s sustainable design features target energy efficiency, resulting in lower costs for heating, cooling, and lighting your building. In a market with rising energy prices, sustainable design efficiencies will save your company money now and for many years to come.