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Green schools can be created at or below regional K-12 construction costs and operated within existing facilities budgets. The Cost of Green Revisited (Davis Langdon, 2007) reveals that projects can and are achieving LEED certification not only within their budgets, but also within the same cost range as non-LEED projects.

According to Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits by Greg Kats, green schools use 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water than conventionally constructed schools, significantly reducing utility costs over the average 42-year lifecycle of a school. On average, green schools save $100,000 per year on operating costs - enough to hire at least one new teacher, buy 200 new computers, or purchase 5,000 textbooks. If all new U.S. school construction and renovation went green today, the total energy savings alone would be $20 billion over the next 10 years.

The cost savings in green schools are generated from many sources, including energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems, energy-efficient lighting and occupancy sensors, daylighting strategies, water-efficient fixtures and lower operations and maintenance expenses. The landscaping at green schools can minimize water use and decrease maintenance costs by using native, drought resistant plants, rainwater harvesting and innovative irrigation systems.