title: Demystifying first-cost green building premiums in healthcare.
abstract: This study assesses the extent of "first-cost green building construction premiums" in the healthcare sector based on data submitted by and interviews with 13 current LEED-certified and LEED-registered healthcare project teams, coupled with a literature survey of articles on the topics of actual and perceived first-cost premiums associated with green building strategies. This analysis covers both perceived and realized costs across a range of projects in this sector, leading to the following conclusions: Construction first-cost premiums may be lower than is generally perceived, and they appear to be independent of both building size and level of "green" achievement; projects are using financial incentives and philanthropy to drive higher levels of achievement; premiums are decreasing over time; and projects are benefiting from improvements in health and productivity which, although difficult to monetize, are universally valued.
authors.affiliation: Adele Houghton Consulting, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vittori
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guenther
mesh_terms: D002201:Capital Expenditures; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics*; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans