Green Construction

The explosion of green design information and presence in the everyday media has become an acknowledge fact. The mainstreaming of sustainable design has created a subtle, and in some cases a not so subtle, demand for buildings that minimize environmental impact and provide a healthier indoor living or working space.

Retail stores in particular have much to gain from going green. Studies have linked the skylights that are a feature of green retail spaces to increased sales numbers; products located under skylit areas sell better than products located in non-skylit areas of the store. Retailers were among the first adopters of LEED, recognizing the need to green their spaces in order to convey their corporate values to their customers.

The number of tenants and buyers seeking out healthier, more environmentally friendly spaces to live and work is increasing rapidly, and so is the demand for green building expertise. The marketing of green for the hospitality business has gone beyond the usual eco-tourism packages to showing concern for the overall health and well being of the ordinary traveler. What follows are a few of the benefits to thinking green.