How these methods improve the surrounding environment.
The impact of green architecture and using environmentally friendly building materials and processes is a broad topic. The impacts are not easily measured either due to the time it will take for improvements to be measurable different (i.e. Average global temperatures lowering and the ozone hole shrinking). A green building may cost more up front, but saves through lower operating costs over the life of the building. The green building approach applies a project life cycle cost analysis for determining the appropriate up-front expenditure. This analytical method calculates costs over the useful life of the asset. Some benefits, such as improving occupant health, comfort, productivity, reducing pollution and landfill waste are not easily quantified. Consequently, they are not adequately considered in cost analysis. For this reason, consider setting aside a small portion of the building budget to cover differential costs associated with less tangible green building benefits or to cover the cost of researching and analyzing green building options.
The impact of green architecture is limitless. A single commercial building can save money over its life span on energy usage, water efficiency, light usage, etc. This in turn lessens the strain on natural resources. The compounding positive effect that green architecture has on the environment and economic situations are boundless. As this topic comes to the fore-front of the public conscience the cost-effectiveness and improvement in the environment will increase exponentially as green architecture is frequently implemented in design.