Economic Sustainability
The building package that incorporates all of the project goals -- dubbed the 'Living Laboratory' -- commands a first cost premium over a standard design. It is important to note, however, that this cost does not accurately reflect the cost to build green housing at Stanford. In fact, the project team has concluded that cost-neutral sustainable housing is achievable with significantly higher environmental performance and occupant comfort than conventional housing. This 'Baseline Green' model is embedded within the design for the Living Laboratory green dorm, serving as the armature upon which technologies and systems are laid which support performance, research, and educationsl goals.
- The Baseline Green building package is equal in first cost to benchmark construction cost of $6.3 million. Sustainable housing at Stanford can be first cost neutral
- The Living Laboratory construction cost is $8.2 million. Additional costs are directly assignable to items providing research, education, and demonstration opportunities
- The life cycle cost analysis shows long-term paybacks for many sustainable features