Dive Brief:

• A report commissioned by the District of Columbia quantifies the premiums paid for three kinds of green building and the benefits available.
• The study for the city's Department of the Environment looks at the factors involved in achieving net zero energy, net zero water and Living Buildings status.
• The premium for being energy efficient is 1% to 2%, the study found, while net-zero energy costs anywhere from 5% to 19% more, but it can come with tax advantages of about 30%.

Dive Insight:

Because of what Washington has achieved in green building already, it appears likely to raise standards. That will give it a chance to teach the rest of the country what it actually takes to hit various environmental standards.