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.