Green Buildings Are LEEDing the Way

By James F. Finlay, Real Estate Technology Editor

 

A May 2005 article at www.Buildings.com by Robin Suttell (RSuttell@cox.net) demonstrates the increasing momentum behind the “green” building movement. [ Full text here [ http://www.buildings.com/Articles/detailBuildings.asp?ArticleID=2475 ]. 

 

LEED Acceptance Grows

Widespread use of the US Green Building Council’s sustainability benchmark is being used to show civic responsibility in both the private and public sector.  LEED provides a quantified standard for the efficient lighting, waste control, air and daylight quality that have always been central to sustainable, livable design.

 

A LEED Users Summary compiled in February 2005 showed 41 US city and county governments have adapted some form of the US Green Building standard for construction and renovation of commercial buildings.  Some places like San Francisco, Portland and Seattle have had green guidelines on the books for years.  Austin TX (site of the first USGBC annual GreenBuild conference) passed a resolution in June 2000, joined now by Dallas and Houston.  Kansas City is a pilot program city for the new LEED-EB (Existing Building) program covering renovations.  Peter Templeton, USGBC director of LEED and International Programs, says cities make up 25% of registered LEED projects.

 

Champions of sustainable healthy building design are found coast to coast.  Boston Mayor’s Thomas M. Marino’s Green Building Task Force, San Francisco’s Mark Palmer (Green Building Coordinator), Issa Z. Dadoush, director of Houston’s Building Services Department, Chicago’ Marcia Jimenez, Department of Environment commissioner are all implementing the USGBC standard.  Chicago pushed the envelop by turning a 1952 building on a brownfield into the LEED Platinum rated Chicago Center for Green Technology.

 

Cost / Benefit Analysis Confidence and Depth Improves

When sustainable, healthy design begun early, studies by Carnegie Mellon, Katz and others have shown that construction costs are similar to conventional construction.  Energy efficiency is important to save money and remove some operating expense risk but the real advantage of LEED certification is in worker productivity gains.  Meta studies that combine numerous smaller studies to gain statistical confidence and highly controlled school student grading have now confirm good air and light can add to worker productivity, economically dwarfing the energy component.

  • According to figures from the Federal Energy Management Program, by 2001, higher energy efficiency building standards for federal agencies had reduced energy consumption by 23% measured against 1985 baseline measures, at an estimated annual savings to taxpayers of $1.4 billion.(1)
  • Green buildings can reduce annual energy costs by 20-50%, resulting in substantial savings for the state and taxpayers. Typical payback period is 9 years with improvement lifecycle over 20 years.(1)
  • The cost of labor is the greatest operating expense (around 89%) for commercial buildings. Studies have shown that green buildings can increase worker productivity by 6-16 percent.(2)
  • Incredible cost savings and environmental benefits can been achieved through green building water conservation strategies, such as on-site storm water and gray water capture/use/resuse, technology retrofits (on toilets, faucets, etc.), and the incorporation of native plant species that require less or no irrigation. Studies of buildings applying for LEED certification indicate that most were able to reduce water use by at least 50% outdoors and by at least 30% indoors.(2)

Sources:
(1) U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Federal Energy Management Program. “The Business Case for Sustainable Design in Federal Facilities.” August 2003. 26 February 2004 <http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/bcsddoc.pdf>.
(2) Kats, Greg. “The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California’s Sustainable Building Task Force.” October 2003. Capital E. 26 February 2004 <http://www.cap-e.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F3259.pdf>.