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Published on: 10/20/2008
Last Visited: 10/21/2008
Wilcox COO Todd Ashbrook added companies are interested in LEED projects for a growing number of reasons.
"Businesses are definitely excited to have the option of operating in a LEED-certified building," Ashbrook said.
"A lot of corporate clients are setting mandates to go green.
And when it comes to office space, the decision to move into a LEED-certified building is not only one of concern for the environment, but also one of concern for the bottom line."
Ashbrook said his building - like any LEED-certified commercial structure - will save an average of 17 percent on utilities per year.
"The No. 1 driver of where tenants go is economics," he said.
"If a corporate client is looking at a LEED-certified building next to one that isn't, they know the LEED building will save them more in the long run and that's not a tough decision."
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, a poll of people showed 8 percent to 9 percent perceived a decrease in operating costs as an advantage of green building, 7.5 percent saw the advantage as an increase in building values and 6.6 percent perceived an advantage in return on investment improvement.
In the same poll, 3 percent of people asked thought green building would mean a rent increase.
Ashbrook said he doesn't expect it to happen overnight, but eventually the advantages of green building will prevail.
"It may be a few years yet, but what we're looking at is the future of office space," he said.