11 ATTACHMENTS 6 TO 13 - Laserfiche WebLink

ATTACHMENT 10 Cost Analysis Cost Analysis A 2004 study by Davis Langdon Adamson, a construction cost - planning and management company found that the first costs of constructing a sustainable building tend to match or only slightly exceed those of comparable non -green buildings. The study, Costing Green: A Comprehensive Cost Database and Budgeting Methodology measured the square -foot construction costs of 61 buildings seeking certification under the LEEDTm green building rating system against those of buildings of similar type that did not aim for sustainability. Taking into account a range of construction factors including climate, location, market conditions and local standards, the study found that for many of the green projects, pursuing LEEDTM certification had little impact. The study's findings also underline that incorporating and integrating green features into a project early is critical to the success of any green building project. "It is the choices made during design which will ultimately determine whether a building can be sustainable, not the budget set," the report concluded. The study noted that developers who gain expertise in high performance techniques rapidly reap rewards. The costs of adopting new methods and materials quickly fall away, giving rise to better buildings with lower maintenance, operations, and insurance costs, and even more consistent rent or mortgage payments. Additionally the study indicated that the investment in green affordable housing benefits the regional economy by meeting the need for truly low -cost homes. Energy efficiency not only reduces utility bills for the tenant/owner, but keeps utility rates lower for all customers by reducing demand. A study prepared by ConSol, dated October 22, 2009, for California Building Industry Association (CBIA) indicated that the cost for energy code compliance from the 2005 Title 24 (T -24) standards to the 2008 standards is approximately $1.33 a square -foot' in our climate zone'. This study did not review the costs associated with exceeding T -24 by 15% as required by the City's current green program or CALGreen Tier 1. Since Pleasanton already requires new construction to build to a green level over standard construction methods and since staff is proposing amendments that would equate to our current standards for projects that are already subject to green standards, staff believes that the costs to utilize the CALGreen code are the same as for projects already covered under the The ConSol study took an average of 3 home sizes (1,569 sq. ft., 2,123 sq. ft., and 2,763 sq. ft.) to produce an average home size of 2,151 sq. ft. and estimated that the total cost increase was approximately $2,872 for that average size house. 2 Climate Zone 12.