Buildings have a tremendous impact on the environment, making up 14 percent of potable water use, 30 percent of waste output, 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, and 72 percent of electrical consumption in the United States. With commercial spaces accounting for a large number of these buildings, businesses have the opportunity to help improve these statistics through sustainable practices. Further, studies show that sustainable building practices not only benefit the environment, but can also have a positive impact on a business’ triple bottom line.
We believe that knowledge is power, and if business leaders do not know what sustainable building is and how it can benefit them, they likely won’t pursue it – that’s where Green Building United comes in!
Q: How can knowledge of sustainable building practices help improve a business’ overall operations and triple bottom line?
A: Studies have shown that sustainable building practices can have a positive impact on a business’ triple bottom line, benefitting its people and profit as well as its impact on the environment. Reducing energy usage and increasing energy efficiency in company buildings can lead to cost savings that in turn allow the business to reduce its overall operating expenses. This is also true for water and waste reduction, and improved water efficiency and materials use.
Holistically, sustainability looks at the long-term impact of business operations, aiming to reduce the cost of maintenance. Green buildings can have higher values, because putting forth effort to implement green building practices helps ensure that these buildings are better in the long-term. The upfront costs of sustainable building can pay off over time through energy, water, and waste cost savings.
In addition, sustainable buildings can help improve occupant health and comfort by providing better air quality, thermal comfort, and lighting. This means green building practices not only benefit your business’ environmental impact and profit margin, but can also contribute to a more positive office environment, which has been proven to increase worker productivity and improve employee recruitment and retention.
Q: What are some best practices businesses can easily implement to improve their sustainability efforts and reduce their carbon footprints?
A: Some business leaders think they have to “go big” right away with sustainability. They may believe they need to install solar panels or cut all carbon emissions in order to make an impact; however, there are smaller, productive steps businesses can take.
The first step is to develop a sustainability policy by asking what sustainability means for your business, as well as how your business plans to achieve these goals. When creating the policy, it’s important to include all stakeholders, that is, everyone who is part of the business, including management, staff, operations, and maintenance. Because it is ultimately up to the building users to determine if these practices will be put into practice on a daily basis, it is important to provide education and training once a sustainability policy has been put into place.
Businesses also cannot change what they do not know needs changing; measuring and monitoring water use, energy use, and waste output can help a business recognize deficiencies and opportunities for improvement. Are parts of the building being heated in winter and cooled in summer that have no occupants or are rarely used?
By collecting this data, business leaders can calculate future savings under modeled conditions. What is the data saying your business needs to do in order to improve? Is it as simple as turning lights or heat off in rooms when they’re not in use?
Q: What services does Green Building United offer to educate business leaders about sustainable building practices?
A: We offer a variety of educational events that range in topic and learning level because we recognize not everyone wants to learn the same thing or comes from the same sustainability background; we have members who are new to sustainability and others who have been in the industry for more than 20 years. Our event topics include green stormwater infrastructure, building codes, neighborhood resiliency, net zero energy, and affordable housing. We also offer educational opportunities on building standards, including LEED, Living Building Challenge, Passive House, WELL, SITES, and Enterprise Green Communities, and almost all of our educational events come with GBCI and AIA continuing education credits.
The time of day and duration of our events vary to accommodate different schedules, and include webinars, afternoon tours, evening presentations, day-long workshops and conferences, weeklong trainings, and more. We are fortunate to have an extensive group of experts in our community and region from which we can draw from to serve as presenters and facilitators, allowing for our depth and breadth of offerings.
Q: What are some good resources for business leaders wanting to learn more about sustainability practices?
A: Beyond our educational offerings, the U.S. Green Building Council website has a lot of free and low-cost resources on topics including what green buildings are, why green building matters, as well as statistics on green building cost savings and return on investment. The American Institute of Architects site is also a good place to learn about the built environment. If interested in a specific standard, such as Living Building Challenge, Passive House, WELL, or SITES, you can explore each of their websites for in-depth information. For a more localized resource, check out the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability website to learn about programs like the city’s sustainable business tax credit and Greenworks, the city’s vision for a more sustainable Philadelphia.