Does developing a building to LEED standards cost more -- or less -- than conventional development? There's no easy answer.
"Even as the word LEED becomes synonymous with green building, discussion over whether it actually costs more to build to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards continues - and no cut-and-dried answer is in sight.
...Scott puts the cost between 1 percent and 3 percent, especially for commercial buildings. Developers tend to look at retail and other commercial projects on a 20-year timeline, he said. Cost per square foot is typically lowered, and attention to quality - and to potential long-term returns on LEED projects - may not be as focused as it is in public projects, he said."
FULL STORY: Green builders can prove sustainable projects cost less
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
Berkeley Approves ‘Middle Housing’ Ordinance
The city that invented single-family zoning is finally reckoning with its history of exclusion.
SEPTA Budget Slashes Service by 45 Percent
The Philadelphia-area transit agency is legally tasked with maintaining a balanced budget. Officials hope the state will come to the rescue with additional funding.
Connecticut Governor Vetoes Housing Bill
Gov. Lamont reversed his view on a controversial affordable housing bill that would have required municipalities to zone for set amounts of affordable housing to receive state funding.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)