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Other Benefits
Green building programs provide many direct benefits from decreasing energy demands and GHG emissions to less traffic and stormwater runoff.
Oleson Woods Apartments include 32 newly constructed green affordable townhouse and flat-style units housed in six residential buildings in the Metzger-Progress area of Oregon. Photo Credit: Carleton/Hart Architecture

Benefits Of Green Building

Local governments trying to build support for green building can find links to many relevant studies through the research section of the US Green Building Council’s web site. In addition, many of our Partners list the benefits of green building tailored to the specific market segments they serve.

Adopting a green building program gives a local government and the community it serves many direct benefits.

Benefits include:

  • Recognition as environmental leaders.
  • Better air quality.
  • Lower energy demand.
  • Lower carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Less stormwater runoff.
  • Less demand on drinking water supplies.
  • Less solid waste; longer life for landfills. 
  • More economic development because of a growing green building sector.
  • More affordable housing that will have lower-than-average utility costs over the long term.
  • Less traffic congestion.
  • Citywide Benefits
    Examples from two cities show how quickly the benefits of green buildings add up.
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  • Spin-off Benefits
    As a community’s green building programs grow, the benefits often become apparent in ways that might not have been recognized initially.
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