Dive Brief:
- A study done by a Drexel University professor on the costs of using the Green Globes, started by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), and LEED processes simultaneously in constructing the school's Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building found that the Green Globes are less expensive.
- Professor Jeffrey Beard's project, funded by GBI, used university timesheets and other construction records. Beard said there was no GBI oversight.
- GBI announced the findings, and President Jerry Yudelson said the Green Globes program came in at about $1 per square foot less to carry out than the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED system for the 130,000-square-foot building.
Dive Insight:
Including estimated design and construction cost premiums, Beard calculated that Drexel spent $1.092 million to follow the Green Globe system and $1.254 million to follow LEED. The building received three Green Globes and LEED Gold.
