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Green Engineering

If a project goes through a value-engineering phase, green costs should be viewed not by terms of how they will affect expenses over the entire life of the building but in a greater context than the project itself. More and more future development will be carried out within a bigger picture mentality. For example, many energy-saving features allow for the resizing or elimination of other equipment, or reduce total capital costs by paying for themselves immediately or within a few months of operation. Also, calling for the use of less energy could have a significant impact on local infrastructure. Before a decision is made to cut a green line item, look first at its relationship to other features to see if keeping it will help achieve money savings/energy/environmental synergies, as well as green certification credits. (if pursuing certification.) It could be the cost of the certification process is transferred to a green strategy that may have a greater benefit than a plaque,

- Robyn Parker, AIA LEED AP

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