Although attaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification is often associated with large upfront investments, LEED-certified hospitals often don't add much to the total capital construction costs, according to a study from architecture firm Perkins+Will.
Researchers analyzed 15 LEED-certified hospitals completed between 2010 and 2012, finding LEED-certified hospitals with less than 100,000 square feet added only 1.24 percent to their capital costs on average. For LEED-certified hospitals larger than 100,000 square feet, the average capital cost premium was 0.67 percent.
Over the past decade, hospitals have increasingly built new facilities with LEED in mind for "measurable economic, environmental and human health benefits," said Robin Guenther, a sustainable healthcare design leader at Perkins+Will, in a news release. However, capital costs commonly viewed with LEED have turned some executives off from pursuing the certification, especially as capital budgets remain tight.
To view many hospitals that have pursued LEED certification, in addition to other environmental and sustainability initiatives, read the "50 of the Greenest Hospitals in America" list.
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