ABSTRACT

The implementation of sustainability in built facilities has signifi cantly increased over the past ten years. Evidence is growing that considering sustainable strategies in the development of built facilities can provide fi nancial rewards for building owners along with social and environmental benefi ts for both occupants and society at large. This chapter emphasizes the business case for sustainable design and construction, including a detailed case study on the business case with regard to the energy and water optimization of a building. This is one of the key considerations in implementing sustainable strategies in buildings, because signifi cant opportunities exist to lower annual costs for energy and water. However, the reduction of annual operating utility costs sometimes requires the additional expense of higher fi rst costs. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the relationship between fi rst cost premiums for sustainable strategies versus their life-cycle costs within their payback period. The case study covered in this chapter does just that.