As an architect, green building consultant, and building acoustic consultant, I have seen firsthand how green building certification can benefit businesses. Green building practices can help businesses save money, reduce their environmental impact, and create a healthier workplace for employees.
What is Green Building Certification?
Green building certification is a process by which a building is evaluated and verified to meet certain environmental standards. Many different green building certification programs exist out there. It can be argued that most countries have green building certification in one way or another. Undoubtedly, LEED, which originates in the USA, is the most well-known worldwide and is well-established in many countries.
Locally in UAE, in addition to LEED, a couple of robust certification systems exist: Estidama, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability mandate; and Al Sa'fat, Dubai Green Building Standard.
GSAS in Qatar and Moustadam in Saudi Arabia are 2 additional systems in the Gulf region. Also, some less used in the region, nevertheless not less important, are WELL and Living Building Future.
Benefits of Green Building Certification
There are many benefits to green building certification, including:
Reduced energy costs: Green buildings are designed to be energy-efficient, which can help businesses save money on their energy bills. it is always argued against Green Building strategies that the project cost is high. however, this is always offset and recovered over time with savings on utility bills.
Improved indoor air quality: Green buildings are designed to improve indoor air quality, which can lead to a healthier workplace for employees. This is another advantage that can also be translated into money, in addition to well-being. with a healthier environment, employees productivity is better and health condition is better, translating into less absenteeism. ultimately this translates into profit.
Reduced water use: Green buildings are designed to use water efficiently, which can help businesses save money on their water bills. again this translates into great savings.
Enhanced employee productivity: Green buildings can create a more comfortable and productive workplace for employees. in addition to improved indoor air, green building strategies include other measures that benefit employees such as daylights and views, acoustics, and thermal comfort. All this has been proven to improve output and thus profit.
Increased property value: Green buildings can be more valuable than traditional buildings. Because of the awareness of all these benefits, Green Buildings are valued more; this again translates into profit. In a study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, it has been found, that basic green building strategies will cost 2% more. In another, by the University of California–Berkeley, properties were valued at 6% more on average. Any property developer will be happy with a 4% increase in their profit.
Improved brand image: Green building certification can help businesses improve their brand image and reputation. Often famous brands boast about their leading strides towards sustainability and showcase their commitment by opting for green certification. It is surely a great marketing strategy.
How Can We Help You Achieve Green Building Certification?
As architects, green building consultants, and building acoustic consultants, with a wealth of expertise in similar projects in the region (check our clients) we can help you achieve green building certification for your business. I can help you:
Evaluate your building to see where you can make improvements.
Develop a green building plan.
Implement green building practices.
Obtain green building certification.
Conclusion
Green building certification is a valuable tool that can help businesses save money, reduce their environmental impact, and create a healthier workplace for employees. If you are considering green building certification for your business, I encourage you to contact me to learn more about how I can help.
I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
About the Author
I am an architect, green building consultant, and building acoustic consultant with over 30 years of experience. I am passionate about helping businesses achieve green building certification and create a more sustainable future.
I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Call to Action
If you are interested in learning more about green building certification, please contact us today for a free consultation.
Keywords
Green building certification, LEED, Energy Star, WELL, Estidama, Al Sa'fat, Mostadam, GSAS, sustainability, energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, employee productivity, property value, brand image.
I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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