Plan to Build Green

Buildings produce nearly 25% of California's greenhouse gas emissions. A recent cost-benefit study showed that green design saves between $50-70 per square foot, more than ten times the additional cost of building green.

Select a Business Location within a Certified Green Building

Lease office or retail space in a certified green building to save money on energy bills. Green buildings have been shown to improve occupant comfort and health, thus increasing worker productivity and reduceing missed work days.

Design and Build New Facilities as Green Buildings

Complete a green building checklist to identify green building features for new construction projects.

Design and Build New Homes as Green Buildings

Small business home builders can design and build new homes to meet the Green Point Rated or LEED for Homes green building rating system. When green building features are included as part of the original design, there is no upfront added cost for construction. Home builders can also use the green building features as a marketing edge to sell more homes.

Longer Term Investments to Build Green

Maintain and Operate Facilities to Green Building Criteria

Review the LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) checklist and operate existing buildings according to these guidelines.

Engage in Smart Growth and Sustainable Development

Energy and water resources can be conserved through environmentally-friendly landscaping, use of low-impact development strategies, smart transportation and more. To learn more about specific resources to green your business, visit the US EPA’s Smart Growth and Sustainable Development website.

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