This Business Case for Green Buildings highlights the benefits of Green Building, as well as the challenges and barriers facing the Green Building Industry in Canada. This document also provides a definition for a Green Building, and provides information on the growth of the green building industry in Canada. The report has been prepared with intended readership from throughout the building industry. All building stakeholders can benefit from this document including building design professionals, various levels of government, real estate professionals, building financiers, and building developers. Readers of this document need not have previous knowledge pertaining to green buildings.

The Business Case reflects an extensive search of published and unpublished papers and studies focusing on the nature and benefits of green buildings. Most of the referenced information is from North America, although a few selected European studies and papers were also included. All of the information was assessed in terms of its relevance to Canada, and only those studies and sources considered applicable, or relevant, have been included. In addition, cautions about applicability have been inserted where the authors had concerns. All documentation was also reviewed with a reliability focus, and heavily biased studies were excluded.

This report was funded by the Sustainable Technologies and Service Industries branch of Industry Canada. This collaborative effort was made possible through the contributions of Morrison Hershfield Ltd. Consulting Engineers, The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, The International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment, Robert Charette, and the Canada Green Building Council.

DATE: March 2005

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