Value Beyond Cost Savings - Green Building Finance Consortium

Appendix GSustainable Property Cost-Benefit ChecklistPotential Property Benefits Description of Benefit Applicability Analysis 106are significant in the operating cost budget and reducedenergy use is also the most integrally tied to regulator,space user and investor demand.Many of the other non-energy related resource usebenefits are of less magnitude, and it is more reasonableto rely upon forecasted savings based on design intentand an analysis of sustainable property process andfeature risks.There is direct evidence of lower property/casualtyinsurance costs for sustainable properties, based onpolicies offered by Fireman’s Fund Insurance, Lexington,ACE, Traveler’s, Liberty Mutual Property, and others. 115 Inevaluating the cost savings from insurance policies it isimportant to assess both the actual cost savings as wellas benefits due to coverage enhancements and otherchanges. 116Lower maintenance costs can be achieved throughreduced expenditures to clean carpets, less frequent lightbulb replacement, and changes in the schedule andnature and cleaning, among other factors.E. Improved Building OperationsImproved building operations can contribute to increasedspace user demand due to:• Reduced cost of changing space• Fewer tenant/occupant complaints• Reduced frequency of capital expenditures• Reduced tenant turnover/re-leasing• More reliable functioning of systemsImproved building operations are primarily a result of amore thorough planning process and integrated design;commissioning which improves the functioning andreliability of systems; and more flexible and adaptableworkspaces due to under-floor air ventilation and otherattributes.As a result of these sustainable attributes, specificbuilding performance relative to tenant/occupantcomplaints, the speed and cost of tenant improvements,and the frequency of capital expenditures can beimproved.Given the rapid change in many organizations, both in267