Green Building Saves Green.....

A new study "evaluated 27 affordable housing developments (containing a total of 1,640 homes) that have been built in accordance with the criteria, which establish standards similar to LEED. Researchers found that while building to green specifications costs an extra $4.52 per square foot, or $4,524 per house, on average, the lifetime energy and water savings from such upgrades amounts to $5.43 per square foot, or $4,851 per house. In other words, green has ROI (Return on Investment). The eco-friendly projects in the study were estimated to have a 17% internal rate of return, with green building costs typically recouped within eight years."