Claims that green buildings can achieve cost-effectiveness, improve occupant health and lower environmental impacts are driving the green building movement. However, widespread and well-documented examples of green building benefits and increased occupant satisfaction will be necessary to encourage the potential next wave, of more skeptical and less easily convinced green building adopters. In addition, compelling evidence about what works and what does not work will also help the green building community to learn and evolve at a steadier rate than if claims were not being substantiated.
The Rutgers Center for Green Building (RCGB) has developed the Green Building Benefits and Occupant Satisfaction Survey (GB BOSS) to help green building stakeholders determine to what extent green building benefits are actually being realized and to advance understanding among the green building community about which building elements are responsible for these benefits. The goal is that GB BOSS can accelerate the learning period about the positive and negative changes created by green buildings and help demonstrate the market value of such projects.
RCGB has conducted POE work on commercial office buildings in both New Jersey and nationally. The Center is also pursuing POE work on green schools, retail, homes, and affordable green buildings.