By building green, you can lower risk and liability throughout your project's construction and occupancy.

For example, by incorporating the viewpoints of the entire design and building team at the outset -- an essential green building strategy -- you can reduce your risk of delays and cost overruns.

You may find that intensive design workshops, known as charrettes, can provide a very effective forum for fostering early integration. These sessions bring together members of your design and building team to brainstorm optimal ways to achieve your project's goals and identify potential obstacles early on. Also, inviting local citizens or building department officials to a charrette can help alert you to any public concerns or potential code issues associated with your project.

Green construction can further limit risk by allowing building owners to stay a step ahead of new environmental regulations and insurance requirements -- and avoid "sick building" lawsuits. Some insurance companies have responded to a steep increase in claims related to toxic mold, the leading cause of indoor air pollution, by introducing mold exclusion clauses and raising their premiums.

And according to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution costs U.S. corporations up to $60 billion each year in lost productivity.