Post-occupancy Study of Green Features in Multifamily Projects

GGLO, the architects behind South Lake Union's Alcyone and Capitol Hill's Broadway Crossing, and several other notable projects in the Northwest, completed a post-occupancy study on some of its green multifamily projects. Here's what they found:

The post-occupancy study confirmed sustainable buildings come at an almost negligible cost increase over conventional buildings, and result in measurable utility savings. Of the three buildings in our study designed to LEED standards, the cost increases ranged [from only] 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the total hard and soft construction costs. Financial incentives available from a variety of sources cut cost increases in half and the yearly savings on utility bills averaged another 1 percent. After one year of occupancy, the green design features actually begin earning the project money. (Emph. added)

If knowing that buildings account for nearly 40% of green house gas emissions isn't enough to convince developers to convert, the numbers should. Especially considering tenants will pay more for green, vacancy rates are lower, and the property value gets a boost. See the rest of the article on GGLO's study and more studies from the city.

Vulcan has even gone as far as making green its preeminent marketing tool in promoting South Lake Union. If you've trudged down Mercer Street, you've likely seen their WhatsGreen.com signage. If you go to the website, you'll find a map of everything green in SLU, and see that South Lake Union is trying to become one of the first certified green neighborhoods in the United States by participating in the LEED-ND pilot. Looks like the smart folks at Vulcan ran the numbers.