The Operations and Management of Green Buildings in the United States

This study examines the performance of green buildings from the operation and management perspective. Specifically, we look at the utility expenses, cleaning practices, use of energy-saving devices, and other building operation procedures of a national sample of office properties managed by CB Richard Ellis. The findings indicate that green buildings in the sample are more energy-efficient than their non-green counterparts. Surprisingly, the average total operating expenses of the green building group is higher than the non-green building group, albeit insignificantly. Additionally, a building's operating performance is more highly correlated with its ENERGY STAR score, and not the ENERGY STAR label.