UNDERGRADUATE STUDY ON THE DESIGN AND COST ANALYSIS OF A GREEN BUILDING VERSUS A CONVENTIONAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

A Student-Scholar Model was applied at the senior capstone design courses offered in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Management at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where the costs and benefits of implementing LEED or “green” features to a conventional residential building were analyzed. In this educational model, a diverse group of senior civil engineering students applied their knowledge gained throughout the major's courses into the architectural, structural, and environmental design of a three-story residential building. A cost analysis was conducted once the LEED items, such as solar panels, energy-efficient windows, and a rain tank, were implemented to determine the initial cost difference and return of investment. It was found that these three green features resulted in a 16.21% cost increase of the initial estimate of the residential building with a 87.03% return of investment over a 30 year period. The Student-Scholar Model allowed students to conduct this research to get real world application exposure. It provided better time management for project specifications as well as categorical deadlines, a preliminary organized structure, and foundational teamwork.