5 Key Advantages of Green Buildings

According to the IPCC report, the adverse effects of climate change are rampant worldwide. Human activities are responsible for most of this, resulting in severe and unpredictable drought or precipitation.      

This highlights the importance of taking the right steps to mitigate the impact of these adversities. One effective way to address this issue is green buildings that promote better sustainability.  

However, it is not just sustainability that makes these buildings a viable choice for you in 2025. In fact, countless other advantages make these buildings the right fit to combat global warming. So, continue reading till the end to get better clarity on the matter!   

But First, What Exactly are Green Buildings?

Buildings have a significant impact on the environment throughout their lifecycle, from construction to demolition. This impact is not just limited to the building but also to the people occupying it, resulting in resource waste. 

This is where green buildings stand out as an excellent alternative to conventional buildings. These structures have unique characteristics that minimize their impact on the environment. Green buildings are highly effective in reducing the use of natural resources and enhancing the occupant’s quality of life.        

What Sets Green Buildings Apart from the Conventional Ones? 

There are countless features and characteristics that differentiate green buildings in the world from traditional ones. These buildings prioritize sustainable design and add features that enhance the lifestyle of all occupants. That said, let’s take a look at some of the differentiating characteristics of green buildings:

• Use of renewable energy like wind or solar energy 
• Use of non-toxic materials that ensure sustainability and are more ethical to use
• Waste and pollution reduction measures like recycling and re-using 
• Efficient and effective use of limited resources like energy and water. 
• Building design that makes it easier to adapt to changing environments. 
• Good air quality in the interiors      

It is important to note that any building can be a green building with the aforementioned characteristics and features, whether it is a residence, office, or even a school, and almost every other type of property you can think of. The important thing here is to ensure the building meets all the relevant green standards.

Save on all utility bills

With optimum energy efficiency, as is the case with green buildings, operations are carried out with lesser consumption of energy as compared to conventional installations which is reflected in the water and energy bills.
In order to get the LEED certification, it’s imperative to show at least 20% of water savings with respect to the designated baseline. Similarly, an EDGE certification also demands a systemic reduction by 20% in water as well as energy consumption.

What’s more interesting is green buildings also don’t require as much maintenance as they are built from sustainable materials. This, again, increases the overall valuation of the property and amplifies your returns in the long run.

Improved Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)

It is obvious that our surroundings hugely impact our health. Human health and indoor air are extensively correlated in today’s time given how we spend 90% of indoors. Sustainable, green architecture’s benefits extend to making those surroundings healthy, drastically improving their health as studied on many indices. In involves better lighting sources, thermal conditions, ergonomic features, updated HVAC, upgraded air quality. Lower levels of stress have also been observed.

Marketing Advantages

Green buildings enjoy an upper hand vis-à-vis marketing as the benefits aforementioned attract not just tenants but also investors and building owners. Lower utility bills and healthy air quality are extremely valuable and appealing. Various certifications can be displayed using a plaque, asserting your building’s health and competitiveness.
NYC Local Law 33 mandates for buildings to display their green scores, regardless of how low they are. Moreover, legal compliance boosts the business. With the governments finally addressing climate change via policy measures, it’s always advisable to be on their side for non-compliance is deemed strictly penal with fines that might burn your pocket. Also, clients these days are keener to work with green-complying businesses as it contributes extremely positively towards a better brand image. Moreover, green consciousness is here to stay.

Besides, Local Law 33 requires owners of buildings over 25,000 square feet to obtain Building Energy Efficiency Rating labels on an annual basis. The law also mandates that they have these certifications near public-facing entrances. As the world becomes more green-conscious, it is certain that these certifications will have a positive impact.  

Government Incentives

Let’s begin with Tax Benefits Recent patterns represent that federal tax incentives have been enacted to encourage and reward buildings that are sustainably designed green buildings – residential & commercial. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are some examples that reflect tax incentivization. We urge you to speak to your accountant to optimize.
Further, energy incentive programs are location dependent. Some focus more on solar power and other renewables whereas, some target energy efficiency directly. A list of pre-determined measures which are eligible for incentives is designed which could either be equipment (LED, etc.) oriented or based on performance.

Depending on the location of your property, you might also be entitled to other incentives for green buildings. These incentives could be based on the overall energy efficiency of the building or on the equipment you use. This makes it quite clear that green buildings are great for capitalizing on government incentives.

Long Term Cost Saving

One of the primary factors that make green buildings so popular is their long-term cost efficiency. Since these buildings are made of sustainable materials, they tend to have a longer lifecycle than usual buildings.

Even though the immediate cost might seem hefty, bearing the initial investment further paves way for greater savings by tipping down on maintenance and shooting up savings directly on the utility bills and expanding the life cycle on the building’s long term operations. For example, exterior re-painting is often no more a concern when once painted using special renewable material; high volumes of water are no longer wasted with the installation of efficient plumbing system. Retro-fitting has proven to help the owners save around 5-20%, and essentially it pays for itself after three years.
Often times, owners of industrial spaces are withdrawn from green-proofing their buildings. The stringent requirements for licensing and certification contribute to this. However, it will be safe to dignify these concerns as short-sighted as at the end of the barter is excellent energy efficiency which will help save for several long years.

These are some of the best-known benefits of green buildings today. They cover everything from financial to health-related perks, along with better property value and tax savings. If you would like to know more, contact us!

There are manifold benefits of Green Buildings. Whether it is financially, or improving the indoor environment of a Building, a Green Building is an excellent asset for any Building Owner. If you would like to know more, contact us!