Green Buildings Reap Insurance Benefits

Sustainably designed buildings may be eligible for discounted property casualty insurance polices. LEED certified facilities are being offered five percent policy discounts by Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund due to the increased safety of such buildings. Other insurance products available through Fireman’s Fund for green buildings include a green commissioning service that pays for an engineer to ascertain that the building systems are functioning optimally. Policies that support converting an entire building or part of a structure to include green technologies after a loss are also available. As sustainably designed buildings continue to benefit from significant energy and cost savings, traditional commercial real estate could lose value as green buildings begin to define the standard for building performance.