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Citywide Benefits
Examples from two cities show how quickly the benefits of green buildings add up.
California Academy of Sciences, one of the City of San Francisco's pilot projects, weaves natural storm water management, biological wastewater treatment, renewable energy production and more throughout the structure and exhibits. The projected is expected to achieve a LEED Platinum rating. Photo credit: California Academy of Sciences ©2007

In Seattle, a study commissioned by the city projected that the first 15 LEED-certified projects would have these annual benefits:

  • 6.9 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy saved.
  • 73,000 therms of natural gas saved.   
  • 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide not released into the atmosphere.
  • $43,000 in carbon dioxide off-set costs avoided. 
  • 3.2 million gallons of potable water saved.
  • 1.4 million gallons of water not turned into wastewater.
  • 1.6 million gallons of stormwater not turned into run-off.

In addition, there was a one-time benefit: 22,012 tons of construction and demolition waste diverted from landfills (a recycling rate of about 80 percent, compared to the usual 60 percent).

In San Francisco, the Mayor’s Task Force on Green Building recommended in June 2007 that the city expand green building requirements to the private sector. For the 3 million square feet of home, offices and high-rises projected by 2012, the task force estimated these benefits from 2008 through 2012:

  • 60,000 tons of carbon dioxide not released into the atmosphere.
  • 220,000 megawatt hours of electricity saved 
  • 37,000 megawatt hours of new green power generated. 
  • 100 million gallons of potable water saved.
  • 90 million gallons of wastewater and stormwater runoff avoided.
  • 700 million pounds of construction and demolition waste recycled
  • $200 million in value gained from the recycled materials.
  • 540,000 fewer automobile trips.
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