The cost of building green
07 May '07 from the editors
One popular myth that has been dogging the green building movement for quite some time is that green building methods are somehow more expensive than traditional building methods. It's simply not true.
In the interest of full disclosure, yes, some green materials can be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but often those same materials save homeowners a considerable amount of money in the long run. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cost more, but they also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and save energy (which is reflected in your electricity bill). Bamboo flooring might be more expensive than carpeting, but could potentially save you on allergy/asthma related medical bills over the years.
When implemented correctly, over the lifecycle of a house, green (or sustainable) building is more cost-effective than traditional building. In more concrete terms, The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California's Sustainable Building Task Force, "finds that an upfront investment of less than two percent of construction costs yields life cycle savings of over ten times the initial investment." Not too shabby!
Want to spend the day reading about the cost-effectiveness of building green? Check out these resources, collated by the State of California.
I don't think that it is
I don't think that it is just the cost to blame for the slow adoption of green building. It could be a number of other reasons including: Building conventionally to avoid standing out (building green makes you look like you've got more money (a half-myth)) and becoming a target for community talk or burglary. Not knowing whether the contractor knows enough about these new green materials to install them correctly, but knowing very well that he knows a lot about conventional building materials and techniques. Not knowing about the products period. I live in a poorer community where those who stick out and try to reach farther than others might become targets for community criticism. It's the "crab's in a bucket" situation sometimes.