Green Building Ordinance Draft, rev. 2

Below is the most recent draft of Jacksonville's Sustainable Building Ordinance. See the post below this for details on the next public forum in January:


In the Public workshop, there was a request for a periodic review and update of this ordinance to stay current with Local, State and National priorities and technologies. I am unsure where or how to incorporate this. The EPB, at the December meeting, verbally agreed with this concept of periodic review and update.

Introduced by Council President at the request of the Mayor:

ORDINANCE 2007-
AN ORDINANCECREATING A NEW CHAPTER ___, ORDINANCE CODE, ESTABLISHING A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE; SETTING FORTH INTENT, APPLICABILITY, DEFINITIONS, STANDARDS, AND INCENTIVES FOR PROGRAM; CREATING A TEMPORARY SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CERTIFICATION REFUND GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATING $100,000 FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TRUST FUND FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, sustainable development helps balance the expansion of the City and preservation of our quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Jacksonville has demonstrated its commitment and leadership through the Green Homes Initiative; and
WHEREAS, architects, developers, builders and owners are voluntarily making the commitment to design and construct sustainable buildings and homes in Duval County; and
WHEREAS, Jacksonville commits to high performance building practices that protect the quality of our air, water and other natural resources; provide employees, the public and the owners with safe and healthy indoor and outdoor environments, reducing developments impact on our God-given environment: and
WHEREAS, the Florida Green Building Coalition has developed voluntary programs for the development and operation of sustainable commercial, residential buildings and planned use developments; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Green Buildings Council has developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating systems for new and renovated commercial buildings, and new residential buildings and developments; and
WHEREAS, standards adopted for the Sustainable Building Program will advance the Jacksonville Green Homes Program, the Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Program, the Water Management District Florida Water Star Program, and other programs advancing the goals of the Jacksonville Sustainable Building Program; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:

Section 1. Creation of New Chapter ____, SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PROGRAM. There is hereby created a new Chapter ____, Ordinance Code, entitled SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PROGRAM, to read as follows:
CHAPTER ____. SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PROGRAM

Section ___.101. Intent.
It is the intent of the Council in creating this Sustainable Building program to demonstrate a substantial commitment on the part of the City to finance, plan, design, construct, manage, renovate, commission, maintain and deconstruct County Buildings with sustainable building standards and to support development of privately owned buildings in Jacksonville to sustainable standards. The purpose of this program is to provide the City with a certification-based "Sustainable building" program to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices of design, construction, commissioning, maintenance and retirement for buildings.

Section ___.102. Applicability.
(a) All new civic or office construction projects owned by the City, including its independent agencies or authorities, will follow the requirements of this Chapter, unless the Council makes a determination that the costs of compliance with this Chapter significantly outweigh the benefits to the City of compliance. All new City-owned civic or office construction projects shall, at a minimum, obtain LEED certification for any buildings in the project. An exception to the requirements of this Ordinance shall be considered by Council for any project with a return on investment of less than 10% of the total capital cost of the proposed project.
(b) All modifications to existing City-owned buildings where the total renovations includes more than 50% of the total building square footage will follow the requirements of this Chapter.
(c) For all other construction projects, including all private construction projects, compliance with this Chapter is voluntary.

Section ___.103. Definitions.
For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms, words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
FGBC means the Florida Green Building Coalition.
FSEC means Florida Solar Energy Center, a unit of the University of Central Florida.
GHDS means the Green Home Designation Standard of the Florida Green Building Coalition.
Sustainable building means generally the resource efficient design, construction, and operation of buildings by employing environmentally sensible construction practices, systems, and materials. Sustainable building also means an office, residential or civic structure which has obtained LEED certification.
LEED means the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council. Program certification means the final designation awarded to a program participant for satisfying all requirements associated with the program for a particular project.
Third party rater means an independent third party certified by the USGBC as a Sustainable building rater qualified to verify that the building project has satisfied all of the requirements associated with the standards applicable to a particular project.
USGBC means the U.S. Green Building Council.

Sec. _____.104. Administration.
(a) The Public Works Department Engineering and Construction Management Division is responsible to ensure compliance with applicable requirements of this Chapter in the construction of new City-owned civic and office buildings. The Engineering and Construction Management Division is also responsible for reviewing, assessing and making recommendations concerning existing City owned buildings being considered for participation in the Sustainable Building Program and, in the event such buildings are so included, for ensuring compliance with the requirements of this Chapter.
(b) The Environmental Protection Board shall review and approve requests for Sustainable Building Certification Refund Grants pursuant to section ___.107. The Environmental Protection Board shall also hear appeals from persons or entities denied access to future fast track development review pursuant to section ___.106(a).
(d) The Environmental Quality Department shall, in cooperation with the FSEC and others, coordinate at least one training workshop per year for the purpose of educating current and potential participants and City Staff in the Jacksonville Sustainable Building Program on the program and its benefits and requirements. Annual training shall be funded from the Environmental Protection Fund.
(e) The Planning and Development Department shall provide fast track development review pursuant to section ___.106(a).
(F) The Sustainable Building Program shall be administered on either a per-unit or per-development basis, as specified at the time of permitting. "Per-unit" means each unit built, except that any multi-family dwelling or similarly clustered structure may count as one unit. “Per-development” means each Planned Use Development, subdivision, or business park.

Sec. _____.105. Standards.
Published LEED standards of the USGBC shall be used to measure compliance of buildings participating in the Sustainable Building Program.

Sec. _____.106. Incentives.
The incentives contained in this section are intended to encourage the construction of Sustainable buildings. For any program participant seeking program certification for new residential or commercial construction, residential or commercial retrofitting/remodeling or new City-owned civic or office construction, the following incentives shall be made available:
(a) Fast track development review:
(1) Development Services, including “10-set” and Concurrency Management, Land Use Change and Construction permit applications submitted or resubmitted for review for Sustainable Building projects shall be given priority over projects which are not Sustainable Building projects by all City departments reviewing such applications.
(2) Applications for administrative deviations pursuant to section 656.109, when submitted to facilitate Sustainable Building program certification, shall be given priority over other applications which are not Sustainable Building projects, to the extent possible consistent with the time requirements of section 656.109.
(3) Applications for plat approval pursuant to Chapter 654 shall be given priority over other applications provided the developer records on the public records of Duval County covenants or other restrictions sufficient to require that all homes in the subdivision will be constructed so as to qualify for LEED certification.
(4) Requests for relief from the requirements of section 656.607(i), when submitted to facilitate Sustainable Building program certification, shall be liberally construed to promote such certification.
(5) Applicants who obtain priority status pursuant to this section shall provide proof of LEED certification to __________________ within 180 days of construction completion as defined by Occupancy Permit issue date. Applicants who obtain priority status but fail to obtain program certification may be will be subject to disciplinary action by the City of Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board under the provisions of Sec._____._____ of the City Code.. Any person or entity so denied priority status may appeal such determination to the Environmental Protection Board. Eligibility for priority status may also be restored upon proof of LEED certification of a building permitted through regular review after denial of priority status.
(b) Designation: The Environmental Quality Division shall coordinate a program of recognition, on the internet or through other additional means, identifying permitted construction as a Sustainable building project with benefits to the community and the environment.
(c) Refund of certification expenses: Subject to, and within the limits of, funds appropriated by the Council for the purposes set forth in this subsection, owners or developers of Sustainable Building projects may receive a refund of the actual costs of Sustainable Building program certification pursuant to section ___.107.

Sec. ___.107. Sustainable Building Certification Refund Grant Program.
(a) Creation and Purpose. There is hereby created a Sustainable Building Certification Refund Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to establish a temporary source of funds to be used to create an incentive to achieve Sustainable Building program certification through refunds of the actual cost of such certification. The program is intended to be a start-up program to encourage initial participation in the Sustainable Building program and shall terminate upon disbursal of any funds appropriated by the Council for this grant program.
(b) Responsibility. The grant program established by this section shall be administered through the Environmental Protection Board, which shall review and approve disbursements from such funds as may be appropriated by the Council for this program.
(c) Application for certification refund grants. Property owners desiring to participate in this grant program shall submit an application to the Environmental Protection Board on a form prescribed by that Board or its staff. Application shall be made following certification of Sustainable Building status and shall be accompanied by proof of certification and evidence of the actual costs associated with obtaining such certification. Certification shall be made by an independent third party rater that the owner has received LEED Sustainable building program certification for the buildings that are the subject of the application. Grants pursuant to this program shall be made by the Environmental Protection Board and shall be for reimbursement of actual cost of obtaining certification, which costs may include fees for application and inspection for LEED certification, but shall not include cost of any construction necessary to achieve LEED certification or permitting or other fess associated with such construction. Grants made pursuant to this program shall me limited to the following amounts:
Certification Level Maximum Amount per Building
LEED Certification $500
LEED Silver $1000
LEED Gold $1500
LEED Platinum $2000
Section 2. Appropriation. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, within the City’s budget, there are hereby appropriated the indicated sum(s) from the account(s) listed in subsection (a) to the account(s) listed in subsection (b):
(B.T. ______ attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by this reference)
(a) Appropriated from:
See B.T. ______ $100,000.00
(b) Appropriated to:
See B.T. ______ $100,000.00
Section 3. Purpose. The purpose of the appropriation in Section 1 is to provide funding for a Sustainable Building Certification Refund Grant Program established by Sec. ___.107, Ordinance Code, which program is temporary in nature and intended to create incentives to achieve Sustainable Building program certification as provided in Chapter ___, Ordinance Code.
Section 4. Carryover. The funds appropriated in this ordinance shall not lapse but shall carryover to fiscal year 2008-2009.
Section 5. Waiver. Section 111.755 (Environmental Protection Fund), subsection (f), Ordinance Code, is hereby waived so as to allow the use of the Environmental Protection Board Trust Fund for the purposes set forth in Section 3, notwithstanding the existing limitations on use of the funds.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor's signature.
Form Approved:

__________________________________________
Office of General Counsel
Legislation Prepared By: Tracey I. Arpen, Jr.

Green Building Ordinance Update

For those of you that are following along, here is the latest update from the desk of Ms. Veleta at the Environmental Protection Board:

Greetings:

The Water Committee of the Environmental Protection Board will host a public meeting with the purpose of hearing comments on the latest draft of the proposed Green buildings Ordinance. It is the desire of the Water Committee to finalize the latest version of the draft ordinance and submit it to the Mayor's Office for introduction to City Council in February. You presence at this public meeting and/or your comments are vital to the forward progress of the proposed ordinance. The latest draft is attached for your information and comment.

The Public Meeting the proposed Green Buildings Ordinance will be held Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 4:30 P.M. in Conference Room 3C, City Hall
- St. James, 117 W. Duval Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.

Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact the undersigned or Ruby Tucker at 630-3692. Written comments may be submitted via email to me or via snail mail to Mr. Robert Schuster, Environmental Protection Board, 117 W. Duval Street, Suite 225, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, no later than January 29, 2008.


Christi Veleta
Program Administrator
Environmental Protection Board
117 W. Duval Street, Suite 225
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Phone: 904-630-3692
Fax: 904-630-3638
Email: veleta@coj.net

(The draft of the ordinance is posted separate from this notice.)

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the meeting on January 22nd. Your support provides the strength required to make this happen.

Have a Cool Holiday!

With one week left until Christmas Eve, many (if not all) of us are still shopping around for last-minute gift items for friends and family. Take a moment to consider what we can do during this time of excess and indulgence to conserve and protect our natural resources and the environment.

The National Resource Defense Council has offered a few hints on how we can continue to be good stewards of our environment during the holiday season:

1. Ground Shipping: The early bird... cuts pollution? It's true: Do your online and catalog shopping early and you'll be able to request ground shipping. It is six times more efficient than overnight air shipping. It saves fuel and reduces global warming pollution.

2. LED lights: Holiday lights are a fun way to make your home feel festive, inside and out. But to save energy, remember to turn them off when you're not at home and before you go to sleep. Shopping for new lights? Energy-efficient LED lights are the best choice, and they're not available at most major retailers. LED holiday lights use about 90% less energy than conventional lights. They'll help make the season bright while substantially lowering your holiday electric bill. (From the PG&E website: Based on annual operation costs of 225 hours of use (5 hours a day for 45 days), large incandescent holiday lights cost approximately $70 to run, mini-incandescents $5, and LEDs $0.45. Big difference there!)

3. Energy Star: Hoping to unwrap a computer, TV, washing machine, or dishwaser this year? Make sure your loved ones know about the Energy Star label. Home appliances and electronics bearing this label must exceed minimum standards for energy consumption; an Energy Star appliance can lower your utility bills and help reduce the heat-trapping pollution that causes global warming at the same time. (Also, from today's Times-Union, watch out for those snazzy flat-panel TVs: a 28-inch convention television set containing a cathode-ray picture tube, often uses about 100 watts of electricity. A 42-inch LCD set requires about 200 watts of electricity. a 42-inch plasma set sucks up 200 to 500 watts. A 60-plus-inch plasma screen can consume 500 to 600 watts, depending on the model and programming. In the biggest screen sizes, a projection television consumes about 150 to 200 watts. All according to the EPA.)

4. Environmental gifts: Stumped on a gift for that neighbor or second cousin? How about a hand-cranked radio or flashlight? They're climate friendly, and outdoorsy types swear by 'em -- no need to worry about batteries. Also, consider gifts that encourage connecting with nature, like national park passes, binoculars, or a holiday wreath made of birdseed and fruit for birding in your backyard. For a bit of 'good feeling', purchase a TerraPass for your SUV-driving family-member with all the kids. They'll feel better about their impact (even if it isn't much consolation at the pump).

5. Reusable or recycled packaging: When you're stocking up for a holiday feast, look for products that go easy on the packaging, or come in reusable or recyclable wrapping. You'll save the energy that would be used to manufacture and ship the ecess packaging, and shrink your personal contribution to global warming.

6. Hybrid cars: Put a hybrid car on your wishlist this year! It might be a long shot, but if it works out you'll get a shiny new car and the satisfaction that you're really making a difference. A hybrid car saves big money at the pump, and is much more climate friendly than the car it replaces.

7. Remember to recycle: Holiday enertaining can leave behind lots of cans, bottles, and cardboard. Recycle whatever you can in your area to make your home more climate smart. Use recycled paper to wrap your presents. Or, if you're feeling artistic, don't buy gift wrap at all. Get creative with old newspapers, magazines, or fabric, and you'll add a little extra personalization to each present. And be sure to recycle your Christmas tree, which can be turned into mulch for the spring. Go to Earth911 to find a local tree recycler in your area.

8. Beat the traffic: Share a ride or take public transit while doing your holiday shopping. If you must drive to get to the shops, bring a friend or two along. Cars are responsible for 20% of the CO2 pollution the US produces, so carpooling really helps (And you'll get to swap gift ideas with your shopping buddies.)

9. E-mail: Instead of mailing holiday cards and letters to loved ones, try using e-mail. You'll save paper -- and the carbon-sequestering trees it is made from -- and reduce emissions from delivery vehicles. You'll reach your friends and family faster, too. While you're at it, browse through NRDC's Earth Action Center and send a heart-warming message to your elected officials expressing your concern about global warming, air pollution, and other environmental issues.

10. Give a gift: Another way you can make a difference is with a gift to NRDC (or an environmental stewardship organization close to your heart). A membership makes a great gift for an environmentally conscious friend or relative, or a great treat for yourself -- either way, you're giving the Earth a gift too.

And remember, recycle, reduce, rejoice this holiday season!

Green Building Ordinance Update

For those of you that are following Jacksonville's proposed Green Building Ordinance, I spoke with Christi Veleta, program administrator for Environmental Protection Board, this morning and she told me to keep an eye out for the middle of January for the next public workshop.

Right now, they are considering the public comments received and making the appropriate revisions which will be available for review at the workshop in January. If you provided comment and included your e-mail address, you will be notified of the date and time. If not, (why not?) keep an eye on Sustainabuild for updates.

Also, the state will be rolling out a proposal around the same time so part of the review process will include ensuring that both are in harmony and there are no conflicts.

In the meantime, keep it green!

Another Good Example of Sustainable Business Practices

We're always pleased to promote other companies that are "walking the walk" of sustainability and our friends over at TLC Engineering for Architecture are one of the best examples we know. As you may know, TLC's Jacksonville office is the first LEED for Commercial Interiors certified space in Florida which already says a great deal about their commitment to both the environment and to the people who work within the space. But, they've taken the next step and have gone carbon neutral.


Sent to me by Mark "Mr. Green" Gelfo:

TLC Engineering for Architecture, already a leader in sustainable building design services in the Southeast, is becoming a greener organization in practice as well.John Douglas Benz, AIA, Chairman, announced that the board of directors has approved a series of sustainability policies aimed at helping the environment. One key initiative is for TLC to become to become carbon neutral by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset the energy used for power, lighting, heating and cooling in the firm's nine offices. The credits will go to a portfolio of small landfill gas-to-energy projects throughout the U.S that are certified by "Green-e", the nation's leading independent renewable energy certification and verification program. We use these projects because the methane they destroy for fuel has 21 times the global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Most of the world's climate scientists agree that the emission of greenhouses gases has a significant negative impact on the climate and global warming.
We will also purchase renewable energy credits for all travel associated with green projects, green design services and commissioning.

Employees are being asked to do their part by turning off lights in work spaces and conference rooms when they aren't in use and shutting down computers and other electronic equipment at night and on weekends. Water-conservation measures are also being initiated. Several of TLC's offices have had water- and energy-saving policies in place for some time with much success.

“This endeavor illustrates TLC's firm belief that we are all stewards of the environment. As a firm, we are passionate about sustainability, not just in green building design, but in the way we live our lives,” said Mark Gelfo, PE, LEED AP, CxA, director of the Jacksonville Office.

In fact, TLC-Jacksonville's new quarters in the DuPont Center recently achieved U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver certification and became the first office space in the state to be certified for Commercial Interiors. Natural sunlight bathes the interiors of the office, which is designed with energy efficient lighting and equipment, sensor faucets, and carpet and furnishings that are low in chemical emitting compounds. Recycled and local materials were used in renovating the 13,000-sq-ft space to reduce waste and cut down on transportation costs. Additionally, bicycle storage, a shower and a changing room for employees who want to bike to work have been included in the design. The engineering systems were designed by the TLC office staff.

If you'd like to hear more about TLC's environmental stewardship, e-mail Mark.

Congratulations to the crew at TLC for taking the extra step to do the right thing. Keep up the good work!

The cost... It's always about the cost

So, what's the biggest barrier to buildng green? The cost, you say?

But, is it the actual cost or the percieved cost?

Here's a good article from CoStar written by Andrew C. Burr that addresses this issue and how the commercial real estate industry sees it:

Rising Energy Concerns Buoy Green Building Industry

Ever-Increasing Energy Costs Boosting Demand for Sustainability in Corporate Real Estate, But is it Enough to Overcome Green Building Barriers?

There are a lot of reasons behind the green building industry's quick ascent into mainstream commercial real estate. At the center of the surge, global CRE giants like CB Richard Ellis, Transwestern and Jones Lang LaSalle are offering clients sustainability programs and pushing LEED and Energy Star certification. On the outskirts, retailers and tech firms like Wal-Mart, Google and IBM are retrofitting their real estate portfolios and pressing the issue with suppliers. Banks are starting to recognize the fiscal soundness of sustainable buildings, lawmakers are becoming braver on regulation, and global real estate-centric programs from former U.S. presidents (the Clinton Climate Initiative) haven't hurt, either.

But in perhaps the biggest boon for green building, the industry hasn't had to do a thing. Concern over spiraling energy prices in the U.S. have forced tenants and landlords, particularly among institutional owners and big corporate occupiers, to reevaluate their energy options, creating a market-based demand for solutions. "Energy is a pressure point that's causing people to focus on sustainability," says Eric Bowles, vice president and director of research for corporate real estate trade group CoreNet Global. "When companies look at what's busting their budget this year, it's rising energy costs. Essentially, the energy issue is creating the attention."

CoreNet, in conjunction with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), recently released the findings of a global survey conducted over the past year on sustainability perceptions and trends in corporate real estate. The survey found that energy concerns dominated corporate thinking on critical sustainability issues. "Energy, at least currently, is the most important factor to corporate occupiers for sustainability. That's a direct reflection on the extremely high energy costs and the fact that it's a little more of a directly approachable and actionable item," said Ben Breslau, vice president and director of JLL's occupier research. The market has flocked to find ways to cut energy consumption, in part because the business case is clear -- or what Breslau means when he says "approachable." Less energy means fewer dollars.

A survey earlier this year of North American business leaders by Johnson Controls, an automotive and real estate consulting firm, found a compelling business case for slashing energy consumption. More than half of respondents cited cost savings as the primary motivator behind their company's investments in energy-efficient technology, whereas just 13 percent cited environmental concern as the prime reason.

And energy utilization solutions -- some as simple as switching off workplace computers and lights at night -- can also be easier to implement than other sustainable items, such as installing a green-rooftop or rainwater harvesting system.

But while the industry didn't create demand for energy efficiency, it isn't sitting back. Big firms like JLL, CB Richard Ellis, Transwestern and USAA Real Estate have established energy management programs across their managed portfolios, pitching big energy savings to clients.

Other industries are making inroads into commercial real estate energy solutions too, from intriguing new solar power platforms (you don't actually have to buy the panels) to HVAC cooling systems that rely on melted ice rather than electricity.

The correlation between rising energy prices and green building hasn't been lost on The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) either. The organization -- which advertises an energy reduction of 20 to 50 percent in buildings certified under its LEED rating program -- pitched environmental consciousness in its early days before becoming much more effective by advertising the business case for sustainability. This summer, it added two new mandatory energy efficiency requirements to LEED.

Other drivers of sustainability in corporate real estate, according to the CoreNet/JLL survey, include energy and emissions regulations -- in other words, the threat of regulation -- and corporate social responsibility. Both trail energy concerns in the survey but are significant factors, according to Bowles and Breslau. "In North America, there is at the senior level an increasing expectation that there will ultimately be some sort of regulation around carbon and around sustainability," Bowles says, citing the fact that many global corporations are already partially regulated in other parts of the world. "Look at New York. Look at San Francisco. Look at Washington, D.C. You have a proliferation of municipalities, and in some cases states, that are adding their own mix to the regulation. You've got to be a bit ahead of that curve," he said.

According to Breslau, corporations are facing immense pressure to spend capital on sustainability initiatives, including greening their real estate portfolios. "[The pressure] is coming from shareholders, employees, clients and customers. In terms of the willingness to pay more, there's a recognition that this is going to be a positive thing and a necessary thing in the long run," he said. "Obviously, real estate plays a big part in that."

Overall, the survey found that most respondents (79 percent) considered sustainability to be a critical near-term business issue in corporate real estate, and that roughly the same number are willing to pay a premium for sustainability. That's the good news. But the survey also concluded that a number of misperceptions and barriers exist, hampering green building from rooting itself more firmly in corporate real estate culture.

Only 17 percent of respondents said that "good" or "widely available" sustainable real estate solutions exist where their companies need to relocate their offices, with most other respondents describing availability as patchy, limited or minimal. The survey also pegged the commercial real estate industry as decisively reactive rather than proactive in terms of sustainability, with just 8 percent of respondents describing landlords as proactive, and a mere 3 percent calling brokers proactive.

But the biggest concern remains sustainability cost misperceptions, a problem that doesn't seem to be going away. "It's not that the information isn't there, it's that a lot of the stakeholders are not being proactive in talking about [cost issues]," says Bowles. "In many cases, they're simply accepting the premise that it's more expensive." Increased construction costs under the LEED system are generally held to be between 1 and 5 percent, with some levels of certification achievable at no cost premium.

The survey, however, found that more than half of respondents expected green construction to add between 5 and 10 percent to construction costs, a figure that has been roundly disputed by organizations including USGBC, construction consulting firm Davis Langdon, institutional investor Prudential Real Estate Investors and publisher McGraw-Hill.

A recent white paper by CB Richard Ellis also found that cost misperceptions continue to present the most serious barrier to green building acceptance. "The perceived increased cost of green construction spurs fears for developers who are already concerned about the cost of short-term debt and conventional building materials," the report said.

"It's a big obstacle," USGBC Director of Communications Taryn Holowka says of the cost misperception, adding that USGBC works to educate the industry on the cost of LEED through local advocacy and outreach at its 72 chapters, and through hundreds of workshops it hosts in-person and online.

This article can be found here.

So, it's pretty clear that the cost of green building isn't the issue. The percieved cost of going green is the issue.

Education is, and will continue to be, the solution. Keep talking and spreading the word!

Green Building Ordinance: Make your voice heard!

Today is the last day to offer public comment on the proposed Green Building Ordinance drafted by the Environmental Protection Board for the City of Jacksonville.

Here is the ordinance as it is currently drafted.

Please take the time to read it and submit comment to:

Robert Schuster, P.E.
Environmental Protection Board
117 W. Duval Street, Suite 225
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Or, Christi Veleta will accept e-mail correspondence at veleta@coj.net

If you're reading this, that means you already have a commitment to sustainability. Be sure our government know, too. Take a moment today to make a difference.

There's a new AP in town...

LEED AP, that is...

I passed! I passed my test! I'm a LEED AP.

Hi, my name is Ellen Reed, LEED AP.

All my time and commitment to green building finally came together and, despite a harrowing hour, I came out of it alive and accredited.

The test administrator said everyone comes out slightly flushed and shaking after that exam, which may have been said to make me feel better. It did.

She also said that they were watching the video monitor of my expressions because they found them "comical". Glad to know my pain brought them joy.

But, it's all good because it's all done! I can go forth and continue to spread the green joy.

Thanks to all of those who helped answer my questions (and phone calls), who gave me encouragement and inspiration, and to my Study Group buddies and instructors (whose success rate continues to improve!).

Thank you thank youthankyou!

Ellen Reed, LEED AP

File under: Gross Abuse of Wealth

As if the average Joe didn't have enough reason to resent the massively wealthy...

From the Wall Street Journal Online:

The American Southeast has been suffering from one of its worst droughts in
years. But you wouldn't know it from looking at the emerald-green estates of
Palm Beach.

There, despite water restrictions and low reservoirs, lush lawns and
verdant hedges line the Florida island's biggest mansions, awaiting the start of
the annual winter "season" after Thanksgiving.

To keep their thirsty estates running over the summer and fall, Palm
Beachers have been more than willing to pay water surcharges and even fines. And
many have found a loophole in the local water rules, allowing them to spritz
more often if they pay up to plant new lawns and shrubs.

Consider Nelson Peltz. The investor and food magnate's oceanfront
estate, called Montsorrel, is among the island's biggest water consumers. His
13.8-acre spread, which combines two properties, used not quite 21 million
gallons of water over the past 12 months -- or about 57,000 gallons a day on
average -- at a cost of more than $50,000, according to records obtained from
the local water utility. That compares with 54,000 gallons a year for an average
single-family residence in Palm Beach, says Ken Rearden, assistant city
administrator of West Palm Beach. (West Palm Beach supplies Palm Beach's
water.)

'An Outrage'

To be sure, Mr. Peltz is cutting back: During the previous 12-month
period, he used 24 million gallons. Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Peltz said water
usage at his Florida is estate is "under review with the intent of identifying
ways to significantly lower consumption."
Then there's Dwight Schar,
executive chairman of home builder NVR. His six-acre estate, with more than a
dozen bathrooms, guzzled 15.4 million gallons of water over the past 12 months.
A spokesman for Mr. Schar declined to comment.
WATER
GUZZLERS

Some Palm Beach estates use huge amounts of water despite
the city's restrictions. Chart shows gallons consumed in the 12 months ended
Oct. 1, 2007.

OWNER
SIZE OF PROPERTY
GALLONS USED
Nelson Peltz Investor
13.8 acres
20,863,216
Dwight Schar Executive chairman, home-builder
NVR
6 acres
12,155,000 3,253,052*
William L. Koch President, mining
concern Oxbow
7 acres
4,519,416 695,640**
James H. Clark Netscape
co-founder
5 acres
3,452,020
Sydell Miller Co-founder, Matrix
hair-care products
4 acres
1,032,240
*second property; **adjoining
property he owns

Palm Beach's water world highlights the drain on natural resources
caused by today's wealthy and their ever-bigger estates. Efforts by everyday
families to take shorter showers and let their lawns go brown are a drop in the
bucket compared with the water use of mansion owners -- even when they're
"conserving."

"It's an outrage that so much water is being used for single
residences," says Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon of Florida, an
environmental group. "Our water supplies are at historically low levels and yet
you see these big homes with perfectly green lawns." Mr. Draper added that it's
"very difficult to tell Joe Homeowner to cut back on his water use if he knows
that in Palm Beach they're not cutting back at all."

While not as severe as Atlanta's drought, Florida's dry spell -- the
state has labeled it a "rainfall deficit" -- has forced locals to curb lawn
watering and caused Palm Beach to impose "Phase III" restrictions. Palm Beach's
main backup supply for water, Lake Okeechobee, is about five feet below desired
levels for this time of year, and weather experts predict more dry conditions in
the coming months.

The water rules, which border on the arcane, state that residents with
odd-numbered addresses can water their lawns and wash vehicles from 4 a.m. to 8
a.m. on Saturdays only. Residents with even-numbered addresses can do so during
those same hours on Sundays. The city recommends that lawns be watered for only
12 to 15 minutes during each four-hour watering period. Separately,
hand-watering with one hose and "an automatic shut-off nozzle" is allowed from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m. on people's regular watering day.

So how are wealthy Palm Beachers using so much
water?

The restrictions don't cap total water use, only the times of use --
and today's mansions have high-tech irrigation systems that can douse an entire
estate at once. Most wealthy residents say they are honoring the restrictions
and that their water usage, while large, is still within the rules. Many also
point out that they have reduced their water use since last year.

$100 Fines

An estate owned by William L. Koch, president of mining and energy
company Oxbow Corp., used about 3.9 million gallons over the past 12 months,
down from more than six million in the prior 12-month period. A spokesman for
Mr. Koch says he has "taken significant steps to reduce water usage" over the
past year and that "we follow all of the water restrictions and abide by the
law."

Still, many Palm Beachers seem happy to pay the 30% surcharge on
their water bill that is imposed when a resident consumes more than 6,000
gallons a month. Others are violating the Phase III restrictions and incurring
fines to keep their grounds green. The Palm Beach Police, whose officers hand
out water citations during their daily rounds, say that over the past three
months alone they've written 370 citations totaling $54,700. Singer Jimmy
Buffett, who owns a mansion in town, was fined $100 for unspecified water
violations, as was buyout king Stephen Schwarzman, according to city records. A
spokesman for Mr. Schwarzman said the Blackstone Group CEO wasn't available to
comment. A representative for Mr. Buffett didn't return a call.
Other Palm
Beach residents have found a loophole. According to the rules, residents who put
in "new landscaping" can water three days a week, instead of the usual one, for
30 days after the planting. Once that period ends, homeowners can plant yet
again -- and resume the thrice-a-week watering. That has led some Palm Beachers
to put in new trees, shrubs and turf -- often at a cost of tens of thousands of
dollars per residence -- just so they can run their irrigation systems more
frequently.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said he returned to Palm Beach
after the summer and found that he had the only brown lawn on the block. "When I
asked everyone how they were watering, they all said 'new plantings,' " he
said. "So that's the loophole. We're all just ripping out the old lawn and
shrubs and putting in new ones."

Write to Robert Frank at robert.frank@wsj.com

Jacksonville's Proposed Green Building Ordinance

We need you!

From Christ Veleta, programs administrator for Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board:

"On November 15th at 5:00 P.M. the EPB will host a public meeting to discuss
the proposed ordinance. The meeting will be held in Conference Room 3C,
City Hall - St. James. Please feel free to pass the proposed ordinance
along to your colleagues or any group that you feel may be interested."

Here's the proposed wording (in draft form):

Introduced by Council President at the request of the Mayor:

ORDINANCE 2007-
AN ORDINANCECREATING A NEW CHAPTER ___, ORDINANCE CODE, ESTABLISHING A GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE; SETTING FORTH INTENT, APPLICABILITY, DEFINITIONS, STANDARDS, AND INCENTIVES FOR PROGRAM; CREATING A TEMPORARY GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION REFUND GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATING $100,000 FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TRUST FUND FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, sustainable development helps balance the expansion of the City and preservation of our quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Jacksonville has demonstrated its commitment and leadership through the Green Homes Initiative; and
WHEREAS, architects, developers, builders and owners are voluntarily making the commitment to design and construct green buildings and homes in Duval County; and
WHEREAS, Jacksonville commits to high performance building practices that protect the quality of our air, water and other natural resources; provide employees, the public and the owners with safe and healthy indoor and outdoor environments, reducing developments impact on our God-given environment: and
WHEREAS, the Florida Green Building Coalition has developed voluntary programs for the development and operation of sustainable commercial, residential buildings and planned use developments; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Green Buildings Council has developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating systems for new and renovated commercial buildings, and new residential buildings and developments; and
WHEREAS, standards adopted for the Green Building Program will advance the Jacksonville Green Homes Program, the Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Program, the Water Management District Florida Water Star Program, and other programs advancing the goals of the Jacksonville Green Building Program; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
Section 1. Creation of New Chapter ____, GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM. There is hereby created a new Chapter ____, Ordinance Code, entitled GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM, to read as follows:
CHAPTER ____. GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM
Section ___.101. Intent.
It is the intent of the Council in creating this Green Building program to demonstrate a substantial commitment on the part of the City to finance, plan, design, construct, manage, renovate, commission, maintain and deconstruct County Buildings with sustainable building standards and to support development of privately owned buildings in Jacksonville to sustainable standards. The purpose of this program is to provide the City with a certification-based "green building" program to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices of design, construction, commissioning, maintenance and retirement for buildings.
Section ___.102. Applicability.
(a) All new civic or office construction projects owned by the City, including its independent agencies or authorities, will follow the requirements of this Chapter, unless the Council makes a determination that the costs of compliance with this Chapter significantly outweigh the benefits to the City of compliance. All new City-owned civic or office construction projects shall, at a minimum, obtain LEED certification for any buildings in the project.
(b) For all other construction projects, including all private construction projects and existing City-owned buildings, compliance with this Chapter is voluntary.
Section ___.103. Definitions.
For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms, words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
FGBC means the Florida Green Building Coalition.
FSEC means Florida Solar Energy Center, a unit of the University of Central Florida.
GHDS means the Green Home Designation Standard of the Florida Green Building Coalition.
Green building means generally the resource efficient design, construction, and operation of buildings by employing environmentally sensible construction practices, systems, and materials. Green building also means an office, residential or civic structure which has obtained LEED certification.
LEED means the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council. Program certification means the final designation awarded to a program participant for satisfying all requirements associated with the program for a particular project.
Third party rater means an independent third party certified by the USGBC as a green building rater qualified to verify that the building project has satisfied all of the requirements associated with the standards applicable to a particular project.
USGBC means the U.S. Green Building Council.
Sec. _____.104. Administration.
(a) The Public Works Department Engineering and Construction Management Division is responsible to ensure compliance with applicable requirements of this Chapter in the construction of new City-owned civic and office buildings. The Engineering and Construction Management Division is also responsible for reviewing, assessing and making recommendations concerning existing City owned buildings being considered for participation in the Green Building Program and, in the event such buildings are so included, for ensuring compliance with the requirements of this Chapter.
(b) The Environmental Protection Board shall review and approve requests for Green Building Certification Refund Grants pursuant to section ___.107. The Environmental Protection Board shall also hear appeals from persons or entities denied access to future fast track development review pursuant to section ___.106(a).
(d) The Environmental Protection Board, in cooperation with FSEC and others, coordinate at least one training workshop per year for the purpose of educating current and potential participants in the Jacksonville Green Building Program on the program and its benefits and requirements.
(e) The Planning and Development Department shall provide fast track development review pursuant to section ___.106(a).
(F) The Green Building Program shall be administered on either a per-unit or per-development basis, as specified at the time of permitting. "Per-unit" means each unit built, except that any multi-family dwelling or similarly clustered structure may count as one unit. “Per-development” means each Planned Use Development, subdivision, or business park.
Sec. _____.105. Standards.
Published LEED standards of the USGBC shall be used to measure compliance of buildings participating in the Green Building Program.
Sec. _____.106. Incentives.
The incentives contained in this section are intended to encourage the construction of green buildings. For any program participant seeking program certification for new residential or commercial construction, residential or commercial retrofitting/remodeling or new City-owned civic or office construction, the following incentives shall be made available:
(a) Fast track development review:
(1) Construction permit applications submitted or resubmitted for review for Green Building projects shall be given priority over projects which are not Green Building projects by all City departments reviewing such applications.
(2) Applications for administrative deviations pursuant to section 656.109, when submitted to facilitate Green Building program certification, shall be given priority over other applications which are not Green Building projects, to the extent possible consistent with the time requirements of section 656.109.
(3) Applications for plat approval pursuant to Chapter 654 shall be given priority over other applications provided the developer records on the public records of Duval County covenants or other restrictions sufficient to require that all homes in the subdivision will be constructed so as to qualify for LEED certification.
(4) Requests for relief from the requirements of section 656.607(i), when submitted to facilitate Green Building program certification, shall be liberally construed to promote such certification.
(5) Applicants who obtain priority status pursuant to this section shall provide to proof of LEED certification to __________________ within 30 days of obtaining such certification. Applicants who obtain priority status but fail to obtain program certification may be denied future priority status by the Director of the Planning and Development Department. Any person or entity so denied priority status may appeal such determination to the Environmental Protection Board. Eligibility for priority status may also be restored upon proof of LEED certification of a building permitted through regular review after denial of priority status.
(b)
(c) Refund of certification expenses: Subject to, and within the limits of, funds appropriated by the Council for the purposes set forth in this subsection, owners or developers of Green Building projects may receive a refund of the actual costs of Green Building program certification pursuant to section ___.107.
Sec. ___.107. Green Building Certification Refund Grant Program.
(a) Creation and Purpose. There is hereby created a Green Building Certification Refund Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to establish a temporary source of funds to be used to create an incentive to achieve Green Building program certification through refunds of the actual cost of such certification. The program is intended to be a start-up program to encourage initial participation in the Green Building program and shall terminate upon disbursal of any funds appropriated by the Council for this grant program.
(b) Responsibility. The grant program established by this section shall be administered through the Environmental Protection Board, which shall review and approve disbursements from such funds as may be appropriated by the Council for this program.
(c) Application for certification refund grants. Property owners desiring to participate in this grant program shall submit an application to the Environmental Protection Board on a form prescribed by that Board or its staff. Application shall be made following certification of Green Building status and shall be accompanied by proof of certification and evidence of the actual costs associated with obtaining such certification. Certification shall be made by an independent third party rater that the owner has received LEED green building program certification for the buildings that are the subject of the application. Grants pursuant to this program shall be made by the Environmental Protection Board and shall be for reimbursement of actual cost of obtaining certification, which costs may include fees for application and inspection for LEED certification, but shall not include cost of any construction necessary to achieve LEED certification or permitting or other fess associated with such construction. Grants made pursuant to this program shall me limited to the following amounts:
Certification Level Maximum Amount per Building
LEED Certification $500
LEED Silver $1000
LEED Gold $1500
LEED Platinum $2000
Section 2. Appropriation. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, within the City’s budget, there are hereby appropriated the indicated sum(s) from the account(s) listed in subsection (a) to the account(s) listed in subsection (b):
(B.T. ______ attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by this reference)
(a) Appropriated from:
See B.T. ______ $100,000.00
(b) Appropriated to:
See B.T. ______ $100,000.00
Section 3. Purpose. The purpose of the appropriation in Section 1 is to provide funding for a Green Building Certification Refund Grant Program established by Sec. ___.107, Ordinance Code, which program is temporary in nature and intended to create incentives to achieve Green Building program certification as provided in Chapter ___, Ordinance Code.
Section 4. Carryover. The funds appropriated in this ordinance shall not lapse but shall carryover to fiscal year 2008-2009.
Section 5. Waiver. Section 111.755 (Environmental Protection Fund), subsection (f), Ordinance Code, is hereby waived so as to allow the use of the Environmental Protection Board Trust Fund for the purposes set forth in Section 3, notwithstanding the existing limitations on use of the funds.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor's signature.
Form Approved:

__________________________________________
Office of General Counsel
Legislation Prepared By: Tracey I. Arpen, Jr.
G:\SHARED\LEGIS.CC\ARPEN\Green Buildings Odinance draft 11.7.2007.doc

Please make EVERY possible attempt to be present tonight. We need your support!

GreenBuild Update: Thursday morning

Yesterday's sessions were good enough to make up for the exhausting lines (but enough about lines).

First, the Women in Green session was inspirational, provocative, and enlightening. Sitting amongst women that were actively making a difference in sustainable construction and design is something every woman in the industry should do at some point.

On the panel: Christine Ervin from the Christine Ervin Company, Rebecca Flora with the Green Building Alliance (and Chair-elect of USGBC), Sandra Mendler with HOK, Tracie Rider with Trace Collatorative, and Kira Gould, co-author of _Women in Green_.

The panel format was informal open discussion with questions about women's leadership roles in the design and construction industry, how our passions and values determine how we drive projects, what are our challenges in what is still considered a predominantly male industry, and how we're going to make the next step in sustainability.

Comments made:

1. Women seem to use a collaborative approach to their work and leadership practices, which will lend itself very well to the integrated design process. Women may be the natural fit for the future of sustainable design.

2. Step forward, be strong. Take leadership positions and don't self-doubt.

3. It's about having the right people and the right process.

4. "Feminine sensibilities": we are mediators, we listen, we are willing to change our mind and be open to other solutions, protective nature, partner our work with our core values.

5. Once we successfully marry our core values with green passion, the work will take on a "Deep green".

6. Share the "story" behind green projects, and you will better convince. People like to hear about the process or the journey.

7. Our challenges: We're too busy, we say yes far too often, we want it to happen "right now" which often involves a lot of work "right now", we have 'obligations' that we feel we need to do.

8. Parenting: The industry of the built environment (and arguably most others) does not foster a family-friendly workplace. Women propogate the species and that must be addressed for a healthy culture. We should not forget, though, that men deserve an opportunity for support as a father as well.

9. How do we foster a sustainable work environment? Be mentors, take positions of authority, clarify your corporate culture, influence your leadership.

(A sidenote: these thoughts are an overview of those presented by the panel and the audience, and do not necessary reflect those of the writer. This should give you a picture of what went on.)

On that note, off to my last educational session. More updates to come

Greenbuild Update: Lines, lines....

... everywhere there's lines.

Lines for registration (thankfully, I didn't have to stand in, but were reportedly at 1.5 hours long)...

Lines for Starbucks (which I did stand in. 30 minutes)...

Lines for the restrooms...

Lines to get into the breakout sessions...

Lines to NOT get into the breakout sessions (yes, I stood in line only to be turned away at the door because the room was full)...

Lines for breakfast...

Lines for boxed lunches...

Lines to speak to the vendor/suppliers in the exhibit hall...

Lines to get a glass of water...

Lines to get onto the shuttle...

Now, for the highlights:

Great breakout sessions. Yesterday, I attended a "Developer's Perspective" session that was thoroughly inspiring. Affordable housing with high-tech green features. These workforce homeowners will receive checks in the mail each month from the utility company. Now, that's a good thing.

Fascinating products and suppliers. When finally able to get close to the exhibits, I was impressed. Products are catching up with green needs and that is evident on the exhibit floor.

Good company. As Bill Clinton said in yesterday's opening plenary, it's like preaching to the saved. It's exciting to be around so many people passionate about sustainability. You can feed off the energy in the room (which is a very 'green' thing to do, of course).

Currently, I'm getting ready to hear "Women in Green" session which is about how women are influencing the 'green' market and becoming drivers in the environmental/economic movement.

I'll keep you posted!

Ellen

GreenBuild Chicago 2007

Well, I'm off to Chicago to spend four days with 25,000 of my closest green building buddies. If you're going to be there, or would like me to keep an eye out for a particular product, shoot me an e-mail as I'll be checking periodically.

If possible, I'm going to make every effort to update the blog with cool "GreenBuild" things, so keep an eye out throughout the week.

I fully anticipate returning with all sorts of exciting ideas, information, products, and new green buddies!

See you in Chi-town...

Drink for a Cause

OK, I'm not one to promote drinking nor do I do much drinking myself, but...

If I were, this is the product I'd buy:

Vodka360 is an environmentally-friendly product manufactured by McCormick Distillery. Not only is the vodka distilled 4 times and filtered 5 times using an energy efficient process, they also use recycled glass bottles, post-consumer recycled labels (and marketing material), and offer a Close the Loop Program which takes back their metal closures. When you return your metal closure in their pre-paid envelope, they donate $1 for each closure to environmental causes, such as the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida. Vodka360 is also Green-e certified.

Drink vodka, save the world.

They also have partnerships with the Rocky Mountain Institute and their website is full of eco-factoids and an incredible video detailing why McCormick has decided to go in this direction.

Well worth viewing, especially if your business has a corporate social responsibility program. (Even MORE importantly, if your company doesn't! This should spark some ideas.)

Kudos to McCormick for doing the right thing and for being an example for their industry of what is possible if you're passionate about sustainability.

Riverside Harvest Gala

Jennifer McCharen and Jill Liberatori at RADO sent me some information about their Riverside Harvest Gala tomorrow night, 7-11, at 5 Points Theater. According to the invite:

"Price at the door includes food, beverage tickets, and entertainment by DJ Triclops I and The Royal Treatment. Fundraiser benefitting RADO in an effort to continue building sustainable and obtainable communities."

http://www.radocdc.org/

Sustainable and obtainable. What more can you ask for?

RADO is really doing wonderful things to make Riverside/Avondale a great place to live for diverse groups of people. Anything you can do to support them is time and money well spent.

And, there's breakdancing! (All this and breakdancing, too?)

Go. Have fun. Help good people doing good things.

21 things you didn't know you could recycle.

It's no secret that Americans are filling landfills at a staggering pace. Despite efforts to recycle, reduce, and reuse, we're still not there yet. Very often, the problem is not that we don't WANT to recycle, it's that we don't know that we CAN recycle.

Co-Op America Quarterly's Fall magazine focuses on getting to Zero Waste and offers these suggestions:

• Appliances: Goodwill accepts working appliances: http://www.goodwill.org/ Or, contact Steel Recycling Institute: http://www.recycle-steel.org/


• Batteries: Rechargable and single-use: Battery Solutions http://www.batteryrecycling.com/


• Cardboard Boxes: Local non-profits and women's shelters often accept. If you collect 100 boxes or more each month: http://www.usedcardboardboxes.com/


• CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: AuralTech will refinish them and they'll work like new: http://www.auraltech.com/


• Clothes: Wearable clothes can go to Goodwill or local women's shelters. Women's business clothing can be donated to Dress for Success, which offers them to low-income women looking for employment: http://www.dressforsuccess.org/. Unwearable clothes may be donated to pet shelters for bedding.


• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: IKEA stores will recycling: http://www.ikea.com/. Or, you can order a RecyclePak from Sylvania for $15. The cost covers shipping and recycling at Veolia Environmental Systems: www.sylvania.com/Recycle/RecyclePak


• Compostable bio-plastics: Find a municipal composters: http://www.findacomposter.com/


• Computers and Electronics: Find a RESPONSIBLE recycler (one that ensures the e-trash is not shipped overseas, dismantled under unsafe conditions, and the remainder burned in landfills, exposing people to toxic chemicals): www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html


• Exercise videos: Swap them at http://www.videofitness.com/


• Eyeglasses: Local Lion's Club or eye care chains may collect. The lenses are reground and given to those in need.


• Foam package peanuts: Local pack-and-ship stores often taken them for reuse. Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council can direct you to drop-off sites: 800-828-2214. For foam blocks: Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers www.epspackaging.org/info.html.


• Ink/toner cartridges: http://www.recycleplace.com/ pays $1 each.


• Miscellaneous: When you have unwanted items, find a local Freecycle. Or list on http://www.craigslist.org/. Or give them away at http://www.throwplace.com/ or sell them at http://www.ireuse.com/


• Oil: Used motor oil hotlines: http://www.recycleoil.org/


• Phones: Donate cell phones at Collective Good and they will be refurbished and sold to people in developing countries. http://www.collectivegood.com/. Call To Protect will reprogram cell phones to dial 911 and gives them to domestic violence victims: http://www.donateaphone.com/. To recycle single-line phones: Reclamere http://www.reclamere.com/.


• Sports equipment: Resell or trade at Play It Again Sports: http://www.playitagainsports.com/


• "Technotrash": Recycle CD's, jewel cases, DVD's, audio, video tapes, cell phones, pagers, rechargable and single use batteries, PDAs, ink and toner cartridges in one easy box. For a small fee, GreenDisk will send you the box, in which you can ship 70lbs. of the above "technotrash". The fee covers the box, shipping, and recycling. http://www.greendisk.com/


• Tennis Shoes: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns old shoes into playground and athletic flooring. http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/. One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti: http://www.oneworldrunning.com/.


• Toothbrushes and Razors: Buy a recycled plastic toothbrush or razor from Recycline and the company will take it back to be recycled again into plastic lumber. Recycline toothbrushes and razors are made from used Stonyfield Farms Yogurt Cups: http://www.recycline.com/.


• Tyvek Envelopes: Call 866-33-TYVEK. Depending on quantity (over 25 or under 25), you can ship them directly to Tyvek.


• Stuff you can't recycle: "When practical, send it back to the manufacturer with a copy of William McDonough's book _Cradle to Cradle_, and tell them they need to close the waste loop."

Ok, the last suggestion may be a little over the top, but the intent remains the same. We really need to close the waste loop. According to award-winning architect and designer, William McDonough, 80% of what we purchase is designed to be thrown away after a single use, and that final products contain on average only 5% of the materials and energy that went into creating it. That means 95% of what went into making it is wasted.

McDonough's definition of sustainable design really sums up what we're trying to do:

"What we're looking for is a kind of fecundity, a celebration of abundance
rather than a simple bemoaning of our limits. We're not looking at being
just efficient with limited resources, we're talking about being effective with
abundant resources."

Look around yourself and marvel at our abundance. It's our responsibility as stewards of that abundance to effectively manage it and celebrate it.

Recycle something today.

Tallahassee, we have a problem...

We have a water problem. No, it's not just Atlanta. No, it's not just South Florida. Jacksonville have a water problem, too. St. Johns Riverkeeper says it so much better than I do, so I'll use their words. Here's the overview:

• According to the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), Central Florida has out-stripped the Floridan Aquifer's ability to provide a sustainable drinking water source beyond 2013. The District has told communities they will have to seek alternative water supply (AWS) sources, such as surface water and desalinization.
• The SJRWMD has stated that 155 million gallons of water per day (MGD) can be removed from the St. Johns River between the headwaters and Deland to provide water for Orlando and Central Florida without harming the health of the river.
• Because river water has a high salt or mineral content, most withdrawls will require treatment by reverse osmosis, or RO. A by-product of RO is high mineral content and/or very salty water. RO water is also high in nutrients. The by-products, or pollutants, are called "concentrate". The SJRWMD recently began a study to determine the impacts of the concentrate on the river environment. The study will end in a year.
• The SJRWMD is also focusing its attention on the lower Ocklawaha River. Although District staff has not set a minimum flow level, of MFL, for the Ocklawaha River, the agency is telling counties to expect to be able to withdraw 90-108 MGD from the Ocklawaha.
• The withdrawls from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha could total 263 million gallons per day.
• Withdrawls from the St. Johns will impact the river's salinity line.
• One of the largest proposed water withdrawls, Yankee Lake, is planned in an area just south of the Wekiva Aquatic Preserve. Also, this plant could eventually discharge RO concentrate into the river.
• The only county proposing to withdraw water from the River that has a mandatory water conservation plan is Volusia County. None of the other counties or municipalities that are planning water withdrawls has mandatory water conservation programs.
• The proposed withdrawls will cost of $1 Billion. These plans will only provide drinking water needs until around 2030, less than 25 years into the future.

St. Johns Riverkeeper Concerns:

• Riverkeeper is concerned that the withdrawls from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha could potentially cause significant harm to the health of both rivers.
• The withdrawls will cause the St. Johns River's salinity line to shift upstream, especially during drought and low flow conditions. No one, including the SJRWMD, fully understands all of the potential impacts of the river's health and fisheries from the proposed withdrawls.
• In addition to withdrawing water from the St. Johns and Ocklawaha, the SJRWMD is also proposing to utilize Aquifer Storage Recovery, or ASR. ASR is a process that injects minimally treated water back into ground water aquifers for storage until it is needed at a later date. There are significant risks associated with this procedure.
• "Concentrate" from RO processes could hard the St. Johns River's health by adding additional pollutants to an already stressed system. Riverkeeper is concerned the SJRWMD could issue numerous withdrawl permits before the RO concentrate study is completed.
• The SJRWMD has not required mandatory conservation programs in an attempt to reduce the need to withdraw river water, despite the fact that residents within the watershed of the St. Johns use approximately 150 gallons of water per person each and every day.
• All of the District's studies rationalizing and/or minimizing the environmental impacts of water withdrawls have been done 'in house', i.e. written by staff or consultants paid for by the District. There has been no independent review of any of these reports.
• Once the river water withdrawl process begins, it will be extremely difficult to reverse course, even if the act results in harm to the river's ecological health.
• Riverkeeper is concerned that this may only be the beginning of water withdrawls from the St. Johns and its tributaries. As groundwater supplies continue to be depleted, there will be more pressure to continue this process and allow additional withdrawls in the future.
• The SJRWMD has poorly managed our groundwater supplies and how wants to manage the withdrawl of water from our rivers. The District should turn its attention to water conservation, desalinization, and more sustainable planning practices before ever considering the St. Johns and Ocklawaha as an alternative supply sources.
• The St. Johns River is one of the "laziest" rivers in the world, dropping less than 30 feet from its source at its mouth. This fact combined with tidal influences makes it difficult for our river to efficiently flush pollutants and sediments. Removing the amount of water that is being proposed will potentially worsen pollution problems.
  

What can you do:

Let Governor Crist, the SJRWMD Governing Board, and your local elected officials know that you oppose the proposal to withdraw water from the St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River. Tell them to require and support water conservation and desalinization efforts first.

Visit St. Johns Riverkeeper's webpage to find email addresses and form letter to send to your elected officials.

Take a moment this weekend to visit YOUR river. Go to the Landing... go to Cummer... Go to the Riverwalk... Take a Water Taxi ride. Experience the River and you will want to protect it.

Solar Decathalon

The future's so bright, we'll all have to wear shades.

The 2007 Solar Decathalon was held in Washington DC this month and the results were amazing. What is the Solar Decathalon, you say?

From the Solar Decathalon website:

The 2007 Solar Decathlon challenges 20 college teams from around the globe in 10 contests to design, build, and operate the most livable, energy-efficient completely solar-powered house. (Did you hear that? COMPLETELY Solar). Solar Decathlon houses must power all the home energy needs of a typical family using only the power of the sun. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends aesthetics and modern conveniences with maximum energy production and optimal efficiency. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002, and again in 2005, and the most recently in 2007.

The student teams spend almost two years designing and building their approximately 800-square-foot homes and preparing for the competition. During the 10-day competition in 2007, students test their homes in contests encompassing all the ways we use energy in our daily lives. Contests range from architecture, livability, and comfort to how well the homes perform tasks such as heating water and powering appliances. Each team must also provide enough solar electricity to power an electric car.

The competition places demands on their buildings' energy systems to maintain the house within a certain temperature range, to provide lighting and run appliances, to charge an electric car, and much more. The teams will generate that energy with photovoltaic (also called solar electric) systems to directly produce electricity and with solar thermal systems for space heating and cooling and water heating.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is the primary sponsor of the Solar Decathlon. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) sponsors and manages the event. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), BP, and Sprint are title sponsors.

Here are a few examples:

The german team, which designed the house above right, won the competition this year. That may have to do with the fact that Germany is far more advanced in the world of solar energy. Here's a bit of information on the their project:

"Made in Germany" is a phrase that applies well to the Solar Decathlon entry from the Technische Universitat Darmstadt, because the team wants to present the German way of building, showcasing German technologies and materials in their solar house, including German oak.

The emphasis on "Made in Germany" products and technologies is apparent in the team's collaboration with German companies and manufacturers, such as Bosch, which provided three-month internships for two Darmstadt students. That arrangement provided a test bed for the students to study the performance of the systems that will provide hot water and climate control for the house.

"It was very interesting because we had all those experts right next to us, and when we had specific questions, we always got very good answers very quickly," says Toby Kern, an architecture student who was one of the interns.

After the Solar Decathlon, the house will return to Germany to be used as a solar power plant, as part of the university's project of a Solar Campus ("Solare Lichtwiese"), through which all buildings on campus will be equipped with building-integrated photovoltaics, feeding electricity into the German power grid.

Germany has a "solar feed-in tariff" that provides a guaranteed price for any solar power that is fed into the German power grid. Because the feed-in tariff is high enough to more than cover the cost of the installation over the long term, the university is selling shares to the public to finance these photovoltaic systems. This yields a return for the investors as the revenue from selling the power is split among them. The Solar Decathlon house will be the first piece in this ambitious project—continuing to showcase the potential of building-integrated solar power generation.

So, solar can be the answer? Maybe....

Dr. Alan Heeger, Nobel laureate and professor at the University of Santa Barbara, is developing a solar ink. Or, something like that. It's so astronomically above my head, I would not do justice to the description. But generally speaking - its a brilliant innovation. Completely different than the rigid, expensive, silicon panels we know today. His invention is malleable, mass-produceable, and potentially cost-effective.

He discovered a plastic. A plastic solar cell. He mixed a plastic with a carbon molecule and make a solar plastic.

The plastic can be printed, sprayed, and layered to respond to different types of light. Solar cells can be printed and rolled out on something like a printing press. He discovered solar power in an affordable plastic that can pick up very small amounts of light, even on rainy days. They don't have to be pointed directly at the sun. Small devices can be coated in this substance and will recharge themselves. He co-founded Konarka to put it into mass production.

Imagine leaving your cell phone on a sunlit table as it recharges itself.

Imagine painting your house in 'solar ink' which absorbs the sun and then selling the energy back to the grid.

Imaging roofing your building with a solar absorptive paint.

Dr. Heeger imagines they can get the price down to 10 cents per watt once it enters mass-production.

I imagine Dr. Heeger will be bathing in hundred dollar bills before long.

More power to him... if he can give more power to us.

Point Chasing

In recent conversations, I've heard talk about imbalance between various LEED points. How can someone think that changing rooms are as important as an enhanced commissioning? How is a walk to a restaurant or a bus stop as important as decreasing overall energy use? What's up with this crazy system if construction and design teams end up "point chasing" it to death?

What if design teams have a philosophical sustainable commitment in place that uses LEED as the system instead of the goal?

Let's look at Penn State.

In Environmental Design + Construction magazine's September issue, Leidy Klotz, LEED AP, writes about Penn State's commitment to sustainability and how it uses LEED to achieve their goals.

On some LEED projects, the design and construction team get caught up in a futile exercise of which points are "easy" or "cheap" instead of which points contribute to strategic goals. We may, in a breezy approach to the system, say "that's a freebie point, let's go after it". The team them chases these points instead of concentrating on what's important to the project.

The team at Penn State has managed to avoid this practice by prioritizing the points based on their goals. For example, the school has listed the following as their priorities:

• Energy conservation with a minimum 30% improvement over ASHRAE


• Natural resource conservation


• Prevention of environmental degradation


• People's health, well being, and comfort


• Financial payback

With these goals in mind, they weigh each credit using the following:

• Mandatory: Compliance is required.



• Significant effort: Must show clear evidence that an attempt has been made and if compliance is not achieved, reason for the failure must be shown and accepted by the university.



• Minimal effort: The team will investigate the possibility of credit achievement but no additional resources will be made available to achieve it.

As we all gain experience working on LEED projects, an important item to remember is that LEED should be the process... the benchmark... the system we use to achieve sustainability. But is it the goal? I would argue that it is not.

Sustainability is the goal. Use LEED to bring those goals to life, and always keep your eye on that triple bottom line prize.

Start at Home

Today we are kicking off a guest columnist series where we will highlight the expertise, experience, and knowledge of some of our fellow green champions.

Marie Hurst, Principal with Studio Interiors, has written a piece on how to promote sustainable practices at home. She will revisit the topic in future blog entries which detail how we can be greener at home and in our business practices. Her ideas are straightforward actions we can take immediately to make a difference.

Her experience in commercial interior design and space planning spans the country and her commitment to sustainability, smart design concepts, and high-performance building is evident in her portfolio and in her passion.

And, here's Marie...

Start at Home

So what does it mean to go green? It means living in a way that reduces the burden we place on our environment. Going green does not have to break the bank…….here are some simple ways and easy fixes to incorporate green living into your life.


1. Move into the light! Switch out incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFL). Replacing one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light would reduce carbon emissions by half a ton. If every American home replaced their five most frequently used light bulbs with CFLs, it would save almost $8 billion in energy every year.
• Bulb life: Incandescent: 1500 hours ~ CFL: 10,000 hours
• Number of bulbs needed to produce 60,000 hours: Incandescent: 40 ~ CFL: 6
• Cost of bulbs for 60,000 hours: Incandescent: $53.80 ~ CFL: $17.88
• Kilowatts used for 60,000 hours: Incandescent: 3,600 ~ CFL: 840
• Electricity cost for 60,000 hours at $.23 an hour: Incandescent: $821.72 ~ CFL: $191.73
• Total cost for 60,000 hours: Incandescent: $875.52 ~ CFL: $209.61


2. Batteries not included! Use rechargeable batteries. It takes 1,000 regular batteries to equal the life span of one rechargeable battery.

3. Take time to unplug! Few appliances and electronics devices actually turn off anymore. Instead they go to standby. Unplug cell phone chargers, iPod chargers, energy bricks for your computer, stereo equipment, televisions, kitchen equipment, electric razors, and toothbrushes. They are sucking the energy from your home. The U.S. Department of Energy says that as much as 20 percent of a typical American homeowner’s electric bill comes from these energy drainers. If 10 percent of all cell phone users unplugged their chargers after charging their phones, we would save enough energy to power 60,000 homes a year.

4. Leave a message! If you still have an answering machine in your home…ditch it. Switch over to voice mail with your phone service provider. Because answering machines are on 24/7, they use more power in a year than laptops do.

5. Be cool and stay warm! Set your thermostat at 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter. Or even better install a programmable thermostat in your home. You can set the temperature to one setting when you are home, one setting while you are asleep, and another setting when no one is home.
• Change your air filters once a month, get annual maintenance on the system and make sure your air ducts are sealed.
• Close the damper in the fireplace when not in use. Open dampers let heat and A/C escape and can add up to $100 a year to your utility bill.
• Close air vents in rooms you rarely use. It redirects the heat or A/C to the rooms that really need it.

6. You can be a star! Upgrade your appliances to Energy Star appliances. You will use, on average, 30 to 40 percent less energy with one of these products than you would with the standard kind. Front loading washing machines use up to 60 percent less water than regular washing machines.
• Not ready to replace your appliances? Switch to washing clothes in cold water and only wash full loads. Air dry clothes whenever possible.
• Only run dishwasher when full and allow dishes to air dry.
• Unplug small appliances, secondary refrigerators and freezers when not in use.
• Insulate water heater and set temperature at 120.

7. Don’t be a drip! On average, Americans use 100 gallons of water a day. That is 400 gallons for a family of four. Almost a third of that is wasted by letting the faucet run while washing dishes or brushing teeth. Letting the faucet run for one minute uses two gallons of water. Only one percent of this planet’s water is available for human use, according to the EPA, so it is important we pay attention to how we use it.
• Install low flow devices on faucets and shower heads.
• Get a low flush or dual flush toilet. If you don’t have a low flush toilet, keeping a filled plastic container in the tank can cut the amount of water you use by 40 percent.
• Don’t let the water run while brushing teeth or shaving.
• Put food coloring in the toilet tank. If it shows up in the bowl, you have a leaky toilet to fix.
• Replace bottled water with purified water from your tap.
• Fix leaky faucets inside and out.
• Water your lawn only twice a week and install a rain sensor if you have a sprinkler system.