The cost of bird-safe glass is so low that millions of birds can be saved when it is installed during the construction of new buildings — without a significant effect on the cost or the profitability of the building.

For example, bird-safe glass can be installed in a new $8 million 9-story office building for about $30,000, or four-tenths of one percent (0.38%) of the total cost of the building. This new analysis, released by the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College alleviates the concern in the building community that bird-safe glass is very costly.

This is less than the cost of a single PR staffer.

Installing bird-safe glass in new commercial buildings will save hundreds of millions of birds that die every year hitting commercial building windows,” said Dr. Daniel Klem, Acopian Center director and the nation’s leading bird/window collision expert.

Purple Martin, copyright Glyn Sellors, from the surfbirds galleries

Building code reforms requiring bird-safe glass in new commercial construction should face little opposition because the cost will be minimal. Policymakers can fulfill their responsibility to protect migrating birds and meet the environmental protection objectives of local ordinances without hurting the construction industry.

The profitability of a new building will not be affected to any significant degree. The monthly debt service on a medium sized office building ($32,800) will only increase by about $125 due to the cost of bird-safe glass.