LEED is a very good basis for understanding sustainability and energy-conscious design. From MHTN Architects' experience, costs for following LEED guidelines often are low and payback can be accomplished within a few years. Because the credit costs vary significantly, it is important to select LEED credits that represent a high level of sustainability and energy savings and are within the proposed project budget.

A design team needs to work together to make decisions that are cost-effective. EarlyEco© can help the team make critical decisions and achieve a successful project.

Bruce Haxton and Glen Beckstead are co-developers of the EarlyEco©costing system for LEED projects. Haxton is a senior project manager and design architect with MHTN Architects Inc., Salt Lake City. Beckstead is the chief cost estimator at MHTN Architects. Myron Willson is the director of sustainable design and a senior associate of MHTN Architects. They can be reached atbruce.haxton@mhtn.com,glen.beckstead@mhtn.comandmyron.willson@mhtn.com, respectively.