Finance & Cost

A 20-kW photovoltaic system was partially funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust.

The greening process in our design makes good sense all around. First, it offers direct operating savings. There is also a growing body of evidence that supports the theory that high-performance buildings are beneficial to employee health and productivity. While these costs and benefits are still in development, the potential for savings is significant. One report indicates that annual personnel costs vary from $300 to $500 per square foot. Therefore, a 1% increase in efficiency could be worth $3 to $5 per square foot. For Genzyme, this could average $1,040,000 per year in personnel efficiency alone.

It has been recorded that companies who provide a good working environment report a considerable drop in absenteeism, which enhances the productivity figure above. People value a direct connection to the outdoors. This is supported by European blue-green laws coming, whereby all employees are entitled to a view of the sky and vegetation. The role of daylight is a key factor in the design, as it has a positive effect on the productivity of the workforce. A number of studies also point out that the problem stated above is often also a consequence of uncomfortable surroundings, which include furniture ergonomics. This was evaluated and brought into the design of the furniture as a means for the employees to create and modify their own work environment.

There are many aspects to the greening process, and the success of the Genzyme building will be recorded in its LEED rating and its future "real life" use.