The cost of green materials

'Do environmentally preferable materials cost more?' This paper addresses the question and presents theoretical rationales for both affirmative and negative answers. Clarifications for the terms 'environmentally preferable' and 'cost' are offered in order to explore the question more thoroughly, introducing the ideas of life-cycle costs and societal costs in addition to initial capital cost. The implicit basis for comparison is dissected, revealing implications both for conventional and green products. It is shown that the cost of green materials need not dictate the cost of green buildings, and that knowledgeable designers can utilize green materials, including some that ostensibly cost more, without increasing overall project costs.