A green answer to the building bust

According to an article on the CoStar web site, despite a slowdown affecting nearly all segments of the commercial property industry, green building is positioned to withstand the deepening economic recession and possibly emerge as a more influential force than before, sustainability advocates say. The optimism stems from a groundswell of popularity that carried green building to the forefront of the industry heading into the downturn, as well as the idea that sustainability can help building stakeholders cut costs.

Lately, the financial case for green buildings -- that they are cheaper to operate and display better fundamentals than conventional buildings -- has become the chief rallying cry for the movement. “There’s been a focus shift from just ‘green, green, green’ to actual feasibility,” said Shannon Sentman, a real estate attorney at Holland & Knight in Washington, DC, who specializes in green building. “People are realistic. Most realize that this is a bottom line issue and it’s not only economical to do it, it’s bad for the bottom line if you don’t.” Your comment?