Friday, April 26, 2013

Is 2013 Living up to the Green Building Trend Predictions?

Earlier this year SustainableBusiness.com surmised what 2013 would have in store for construction professionals in terms of green building. As we move closer to the half-way point of the year, do you think these predictions are on track?

More green renovations

According to the news source, many existing buildings will receive makeovers in an effort to transform them into greener spaces. This trend is expected to impact nonprofits and higher education institutions.

One school that has shown a commitment to going green is Sewanee: The University of the South, which is located in Tennessee. While many colleges and universities take steps toward sustainability by following the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, Sewanee is taking a different route, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. The university used the LEED standards as the basis for its own system - the Sewanee Standards.

Using these standards, Sewanee has renovated Cannon Hall, one of the school's dormitories. The facility, which was built in the 1920s, now features an array of green features, including a recycling center and air conditioning that will be connected to the campus' new efficient central cooling system.

More water conversation

SustainableBusiness.com reported that many building owners, managers and designers will place a greater focus on conserving water to avert a freshwater crisis. This is apparent based on the number of recipients of LEED certification that list water conservation among their buildings' green features.

No matter what size a structure may be, it is possible to reduce the amount of water that goes to waste. For instance, in Florence, Kentucky, a new Verizon Wireless store proves that it is possible to do business and keep the planet healthy in the process. According to Cincinnati.com, this LEED-certified Verizon location optimizes water use and is designed to save 28,000 gallons of water each year.

Meanwhile, in Mount Dora, Florida, First Green Bank has proven its commitment to the environment with a new location that lives up to the bank's name. According to American Banker, the branch cuts down on water consumption by roughly 25 percent through the use of waterless urinals and other fixtures.

More solar power

Officials from First Green Bank also believe in solar power, which is something many other people will support in 2013, SustainableBusiness.com reported. The news source predicted that the number of buildings using solar power will continue to rise in the new year.

American Banker reported that First Green Bank has offered to finance 100 percent of business owners' or homeowners' solar power upgrades.

"My dream is if you drive into central Florida and go, 'Wow, look at all the solar power, wonder what that is,' our name will be front and center as to the reason why," Ken LaRoe, the bank's founder and chief executive officer, told the news source.

SustainableBusiness.com stated that the interest in moving toward net-zero energy buildings will help fuel the growth in solar power use in 2013. The Georgia Institute of Technology is one institution that wanted to become less reliant on energy. Now, its Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory is the first building on campus to achieve its net-zero energy consumption goal, Technique, the school's newspaper, reported. This is made possible thanks to the largest photovoltaic array on campus.

"Almost every available surface, we put photovoltaic cells on," Darrell Scott Jones, the institute's director of design and construction in its Facilities Department, told the news outlet.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

USGBC Identifies the Country's Greenest States

While construction crews can help environmentally friendly structures rise across the country, there are certain states where green building is especially popular. Recently, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its list of the 10 states that had the most Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications over the course of 2012.

Landing in the list's top spot was the District of Columbia. Virginia, Colorado, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Washington, California, Texas and Nevada followed it, respectively.

"Securing a spot on this list is a remarkable achievement for everyone involved in the green building movement in these states," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair of the USGBC, as quoted by the council's website. "From architects and designers to local chapter advocates, their collective efforts have brought sustainable building design and use to the forefront of the national discussion on the environment, and I applaud their efforts to create a healthier present and future for the people of their states."

Here is a look at some of the states that appeared in the top 10, as well as reasons why they earned a spot:

District of Columbia
Although it is not a state, the District of Columbia bested all other regions of the country in terms of LEED space certified per resident. According to USGBC data, 36.97 square feet of space was LEED certified per resident in 2012. Overall, 110 projects were certified.

After learning of the District of Columbia's placement at the top of the list, Keith Anderson, interim director of the District of Columbia's Department of the Environment, said that buildings are one of the main focus areas of Mayor Vincent C. Gray's Sustainable DC Initiative.

"We are indeed thrilled to be leading the nation in per-capita LEED certified space," said Anderson, as quoted by the USGBC website. "Our private and public building sectors are boldly leading with the development of high performing green buildings, and we have aligned governmental policies to support such innovation."

According to the District of Columbia's website, 24 District buildings have received LEED certification at the Silver level or higher. In addition, more than 150 projects are LEED registered.

Virginia
Landing in the list's second spot is Virginia, with 3.71 square feet of space LEED certified per resident. While Virginia's LEED space per capita was lower than the District of Columbia's, its number of projects certified was significantly higher at 170.

One man who was very pleased with the ranking was Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who has a desire to make his state the energy capital of the U.S.

"Today's ranking is a validation of the tremendous effort of Virginia's architects and builders to design and renovate building spaces to be more energy-efficient," McDonnell said in a statement. "Last year, I signed into law the High Performance Building Act, which ensures that public building design, construction and renovation now meets the LEED green building standard as well. It is good for the environment, good for our bottom line and good for business."

Illinois
Illinois earned the fifth spot on the USGBC's list, with 1.94 square feet of LEED space certified per resident. For Governor Pat Quinn, this was welcome news, as he has worked to make Illinois the "most environmentally-friendly state" since he took office, according to a press release.

Quinn's advocacy for green building is one reason why Illinois ranked so high on the list. In 2009, the governor signed a capital construction plan that requires all state-funded projects to seek at least LEED Silver certification. Furthermore, any major renovation of an existing state-owned structure must pursue LEED certification as well.