November 16, 2010
by macko
in Green Building, LEED
Tags: 2010, Chicago, Green Building, GreenBuild, USGBC
As we decend upon Chicago to immerse ourselves in what is expected to be an epic GreenBuild, I am left to wonder where the industry is headed…
Last year 30,000 plus people moshed through the doors in Phoenix Arizona at Green Build 2009 but after Tuesday night on the showroom floor at Green Build 2010 in Chicago, I am left wondering how many will be pushing through the front doors of the Chicago Convention Center in less than 12 hours. Either way, virtually all of them will be curious about one question: where is the green building industry headed?
The much anticipated Green Outlook 2010 from the folks at McGraw Hill will be out soon and GreenBiz.com’s “State of Green Business” has been released just in time for GreenBuild. The “State of Green Business” is, as usual, written in a passive voice thats tone overly skirts around getting to the point in it’s quest to uncover advancements in “green.” The Green Outlook however is the much more quoted study referencing the potential market value of the green building sector. It is expected to suggest significant growth in this sector continuing the expotential growth it has experience throughout the 2000s.
Whether looking for trends, networking, education, or the “experience,” GreenBuild 2010 in Chicago will forcast exactly where the USGBC is headed. Membership to what was the largest environmental NGO in the world and the fastest growing NGO in the world, has dwindled from 20,000 members to 16,000 during the past 12 months. The showroom floor tonight demonstrated to me that the spending just isn’t there – Kohler who built a monstrosity covering better than 5000 square feet last year with water features galore, occupies maybe 1/5 of that space this year. Although I didn’t make it everywhere Tuesday night, remis is Anderson Window’s massive demonstration, Home Depot’s 2-story structure, and the modular house tours that existed in Phoenix. Where is the USGBC in their growth pattern and how will they continue to impact the green building sector?
This question and other’s remain – to be continued…
August 5, 2009
by Environmental Building Strategies
in LEED, Uncategorized
Tags: Green Building, LEED 2009, USGBC
12. Research the USGBC website – ask around
The USGBC wants you to succeed – they happen to want you to be in compliance too. They are pushing the market in a new direction and by signing up you are agreeing that direction is a good one – you are advocating the same thing. Because they want you to succeed they have tools and resources on their website for you to use. These include a breakdown of all the LEED rating systems, LEED projects that have been successful in the pass, sample presentations on why to build green and green building benefits, and many other useful tools and information on green building.
A new addition to the wealth of assets provided by USGBC is a new LEED online tool. Once a project is registered its status can be followed by all team members using the online template. Consultants, owners, project managers, architects, or any individual involved in the LEED process can see how many credits the project has qualified for and how many more it needs to reach the desired certification level. This great tool solves a previously serious problem, lack of transparency throughout the process and keeps all team members’ expectations firmly rooted in reality. It also helps keep the project on budget and on time.
Research the USGBC website and CIR’s – get involved in your local chapter to find contractors or people who know and understand the system. They may also be able to provide you with contacts to successfully complete the mission.
–The EBS Team–
June 1, 2009
by Environmental Building Strategies
in LEED
Tags: Consulting, Green Building, LEED, USGBC
Lighting (especially Daylighting), energy modeling, LEED Documentation, and sustainability experts are just a few crucial aspects of a successful LEED project. Hiring a firm that can provide expertise in a package is often your best bet. They will understand how energy modeling affects LEED EA credits and even better they will be able to advise on the several synergies that exist within LEED.
For instance, Increasing Fenestration with the appropriate glass can increase thermal resistance, allow for Daylighting, allow thermal comfort for occupants, reduce electrical lighting requirements, reduce HVAC demand, and increase credit for EA all the while reducing operating costs for the building which in turn will affect the Net Operating Income (NOI) of the property.
Be careful when choosing a LEED Consultant – there are so many out there these days however many of them aren’t sustainability experts and few offer the full breadth of services. Being able to Document a LEED project isn’t enough – often a good question to ask is something like, “How will the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of my West Facing Fenestration affect my tenants and which Tvis value would you recommend as a result?” If they can’t answer a more challenging question like that one then they shouldn’t be hired.
Also, with the launch of LEED 2009, your consultant should be able to communicate the affects of the transition from older LEED Versions to the new 100 Point scale under LEED 2009 and how urban projects are more greatly impacted.
–The EBS Team–
November 6, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Green Building, LEED
Tags: Green Building, LEED, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Site, USGBC
4. “Conserve Building Materials, Reduce Construction Waste, and Sensibly Use Natural Resources.” Recycling old materials, using products like bamboo which has a short regeneration time, and focusing on attaining materials from nearby all contribute to the conservation of natural resources. 5. “Protect and Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality.” Monitoring levels of carbon dioxide as well as maintaining adequate air ventilation contribute to this environmental quality. It is also important to stray from using toxics that create a “new-building smell,” as well as to focus on aesthetics such as adequate daylight and views of the outdoors.
November 6, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Green Building, LEED
Tags: Green Building, LEED, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Site, USGBC
So what does it mean to go “green?” The US Green Building Council (USGBC) utilizes the Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) system to highlight the following five factors as considerations for constructing a green building. While not all green buildings integrate every one of these, they are important to consider and to help explain a little more about what a green building is. 1. “Promote Selection of Appropriate Sites and Environmentally Sustainable Site Development.” By utilizing preexisting structures, whether a brownfield or an old building, the need for new materials and open spaces decreases. More
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