Using early-stage assessment to reduce the financial risks and perceived barriers of sustainable buildings

Abstract

For sustainable buildings to become mainstream they must demonstrate not only improved environmental performance but also financial performance, benefiting both end users and investors. The perceived financial constraints and risks are often major barriers to sustainable design. This paper discusses the application of a new tool that formalizes the traditionally intuitive-based early-stage decision making processes and assesses the potential for creating a financially feasible best-practice sustainable building across a range of environmental, social and economic parameters, using the limited data available at the outset of a project. It considers the total cost of ownership, demonstrating t..