Follow the Green Before Going Green; the dollars and cents of investing in green design and construction.

1. There are different levels of green.
Pursuing LEED certification is often still a choice, but there are different levels of certification within LEED. In addition, states are also developing their own sustainable design standards. In Minnesota, there is “Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond,” or B3. In Iowa, you have Chapter 310 and Green Streets Criteria. In Nebraska there are green standards for all public or government facilities. Talk to the experts at Stahl Construction to save time, avoid the headaches of noncompliance or the loss of public financing. We understand the planning, documentation and other compliance requirements of state and federal sustainable building standards. We have LEED AP® certified project managers. We can advise you on the right approach to the standards required or desired.

2. Some green design and building components save you money sooner than others.
Before you decide on green design or construction enhancements, you should understand the potential return on investment. Some green items, such as motion-sensored lighting, lighting dimmers and low-flow faucets and toilets are fairly inexpensive up front and offer a much faster return on investment than low-e windows or geothermal, for example.

An estimate of future savings can help you in the planning stages when justifying the initial project cost. If your building will be less expensive to operate in the short-term future and may result in an attractive selling point for investors and tenants, it’s worth exploring your green options.

3. You sometimes have a choice about going green, and sometimes you don’t.
Certain financing, government or not-for-profit involvement and other factors sometimes require a level of sustainable design and construction standards. You need to balance the ROI and environmental benefits promised with going green with your need for financing and key project partnerships.
 
Mandated standards don’t always take into account the proposed budget for a project, particularly in private development. And no one is promising yet how valuable new eco-friendly commercial properties will be compared to retrofitted properties. Sometimes you have to go green now and sometimes you don’t. You may have to invest now or you could wait until later.

Talk to the experienced design and construction experts at Stahl Construction to decide which options are right for you today — and how decisions will impact your property in the future.

Call us at 952-931-9300 or email us at info@stahlconstruction.com

Stahl's Green Projects and Green Capabilities