• Advocates of green building say that there is a bigger benefit in reduced labor expenses than in the more widely understood construction costs or utility bills.
• Sustainable design results in better indoor environmental quality, which reduces labor expenses and can encourage customers to buy, students to learn and patients to heal.
• Labor and labor-related costs can account for 78% to 92% of building expenses, depending on which expert is doing the math.

From the article:

Many sustainability-minded businesses realize that green buildings usually have lower energy costs, but that may not be the most significant reason to incorporate sustainable design in your facilities. ...