The misconception that the costs of green design, construction, and certification are prohibitive stands as one of the greatest barriers to the adoption of sustainable design. However, numerous studies and reports now demonstrate that green buildings actually cost less than conventional construction.

The Green premium is no longer a barrier and the project is more than compensated over the lifetime of the building in concrete financial returns such as savings in utility bills, increased property values and employee productivity gains. Recent studies show the actual construction cost barrier to only be around 2% in the current market.

"The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings," report produced by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for the State of California Sustainable Building Task force presenting a definitive cost benefit analysis of green building based on a review of certified buildings, states:

"While the environmental and human health benefits of green building have been widely recognized, this comprehensive report confirms that minimal increases in upfront costs of about 2% to support green design would, on average, result in life cycle savings of 20% of total construction costs -- more than ten times the initial investment. For example, an initial upfront investment of up to $100,000 to incorporate green building features into a $5 million project would result in a savings of $1 million in today's dollars over the life of the building."