Prepared for the UGC by Davis Langdon, the study looked at construction costs for 38 high-rise multifamily buildings and 25 commercial interiors here. It found that LEED-certified high-rises came in at an average of $440 per square foot, compared to $436 pr square foot for non-LEED projects. The differential was less than 1%, according to the report. On commercial interiors, the cost of $191 per square foot for LEED construction was actually 6% lower than the $204 per square foot cost of non-LEED.

"This study should lay to rest the claims of skeptics who have questioned whether green building and value can co-exist," Unger says in a release. "It shows that once you set a project budget, you can build green or non-green within those parameters."

The cost angle has become particularly important as construction funding remains a more precious commodity in the current economy. "Undoubtedly, project teams are now on the lookout for every opportunity to save money," the report states. "However, where green is a stated project goal, teams find ways of incorporating green elements into their projects by tailoring their design choices and budgets appropriately."