Green Building Success Story

I've been reading a report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development called "Energy Efficiency in Building: Business realities and opportunities". It's a 38-page report on... well, energy efficiency in buildings. (Summary reports tend not to be very creative with their titles) Most importantly, though, it provides insight on why the building industry is slow to move forward into sustainability. To cite some comments:

1. Building is too multi-disciplinary and the key players tend not to interact. Local authorities work with developers and owners; the owners work through agents with the end users and the developers. The developers commission designers, engineers and contractors. The capital providers talk to the developers. Most have short-term interests, the end-users have very little say in decisions, those commissioned by the developer only communicate if they are integrated, and those that foot the bill for energy-efficient measures perceive that they're not receiving the benefits. All this results in decision-making "islands" which means ineffective communication and overall inefficiency.

2. Fully integrated design-build projects are perceived as more costly. Developers believe competition results in lower bids and tend not to be interested in a cooperative design/build approach, though DB often results in improved building performance, lower costs, and fewer disruptive changes.

3. Actual cost v. perception: When asked "how much more do you think a certified-green building would cost relative to a normal building", respondents from around the world answered approximately 17% more. The actual cost around the world? Closer to 5%.

4. Overheard from an academic in Japan: "The biggest barrier is that investors have the final decision-making authority on buildings and, under current circumstances, they are pursuing profit maximization. Sustainable building options conflict with profit maximization."

5. Four main barriers for decision-makers in the building industry: Personal know-how, business community acceptance, supportive corporate environment, and personal commitment.

6. When asked about driving change, most leaders suggested they were somewhat willing to drive change, but only if the measures prove to be "tried and tested". Very few business leaders were willing to step up and be risk-taking leaders in the industry.

7. 84% of total building energy is typically consumed during the use phase, assuming a building life of over 50 years. Buildings with a shorter life therefore consume more embodied energy. Buildings need to last longer and utilize higher-performing systems to make this possible.

8. Despite stated interest of real estate managers in energy efficiency, a 2007 study found that only 2/3 of companies tracked energy data, only 60% tracked energy costs, and only 30% included energy efficiency requirements in RFPs.

9. Levers for change: Adopt a holistic building approach, Make energy in buildings more valued, education and motivate.

Here's a light at the end of the tunnel... Cast studies and success stories are often the pivotal piece of information required to tip someone to build green. Here's a wonderful one:

Council House 2 in Melbourne Australia:

It's a ten-story office building for the City of Melbourne's staff opened in 2006. It was designed to copy the planet's natural ecology, using the 14-hour solar cycle and uses rainwater to power, heat, cool and supply water to the building.

"The north facade has 10 dark-colored air ducts that absorb heat from the sun. The hot air rises, taking the stale air up and out of the building. The south facade has light-colored ducts that draw in fresh air from the roof and distribute it down through the building. The west facade has louvers made from recycled timber that move according to the position of the sun and are powered by photovoltaic roof panels."

Here's the best part:

The building consumes approximately 35kWh/m/year. Compared to the previous Council building (c1970), this equals savings of:

• 82% electricity consumption


• 87% gas consumption


• 72% mains water supply

Financial savings of $1.96 million dollars annually.

Spread the word!

So What's up with Green Building?

Some of Sustainabuild's faithful followers may have noticed a recent absent from my quasi-obsessive postings on the state of Green here, there, and everywhere. (For those of you that haven't noticed, you need to visit more!) I was fortunate to have spent the better part of last week in Washington DC attending the SMPS Annual Conference. Two of the breakout sessions were specific to marketing Green Building and LEED within the A/E/C industry. Needless to say, I was a front-row-sitting-apple-polisher for these sessions.

The first session was called "From Green to Gold" by Jerry Yudelson, PE, CPSM and Principal at Yudelson Associates. He recently sat on the national board for USGBC and has trained nearly 3000 people on the LEED system. He's authored several books, one of which I picked up on Marketing Green Buildings. He signed it. I bet he felt like a rock star. :-) I'm a total green-groupie.

A few highlights and bits that I found useful:

Registering a LEED project is like getting engaged: It doesn't mean you're going to get married, but you intend to. LEED certification is like the wedding ceremony (and comes with all the inherent planning, headaches, excitement, and relief when it's complete). Your building even gets a shiny bit of metal as proof of the whole thing. Great analogy.

When comparing a Green Building with Traditional Buildings: Turn the tables. "I can build a facility for you which will result in 15% more absenteeism, higher turnover, 25% higher energy cost, 15% more water use, and I can save you 50 cents a square foot. Whaddya think?" No one in their right mind would agree. But when you try to convince someone to build for 50 cents a square foot more with all of those associated benefits, you still get push back. Crazy, isn't it?

Some of the limitations on the growth of green buildings: 1. Design/construction team lack of experience and unwilingness to take risks. 2. Continued perception that green is more expensive. 3. Lack of post-occupancy evaluations to demonstrate green benefits.

The second green sessions was titled "Green Trends and Opportunities in the Marketplace" by Harvey Bernstein, FASCE, VP Industry Analytics and Alliances with McGraw Hill Construction. He is responsible for green initiatives to include studies on green construction trends. He shared some great numbers with us on their recent Green Building study.

What's the impact of buildings? 40% total energy use, 38% carbon dioxide emissions and 36% of all greenhouse gas emissions, 30% waste outpot, 12% potable water consumption.

Changing ethics will result in shift in the market: 89% of polled 13-25 year olds said they are likely to switch brands given equal price and quality to support a cause. 74% are more likely to pay attention to messages of companies deeply committed to a cause. 69% consider a company's social commitment when deciding where to shop. These are our future (and current!) employees. They're also our future owners, developers, end-users.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index is continually outperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The tipping point for the green market is expected within three years.

47% believe that government will eventually require green building which may influence their support for green building.

40% of corporate leaders agree that ignoring green building will lead to problems with regards to public relations.

36% agree that green building creates an unjustifiable cost premium. 40% have no opinion. So, 76% need more education to overcome that perception.

Increased energy costs are driing 75% of all green building, 40% government regulations and tax incentives, and 26% state global influences.

So, that's what up in the world of green building right now. Those are some of the most recent stats we have on the state of the sustainable union. I encourage those in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction to take those stats to their marketing departments, to their principals, and to heart. As Jerry Yudelson cited in his presentation:

"An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time as come." --Emile Zola 19th c. French Writer

Thanks to Mr. Yudelson and Mr. Bernstein for sharing their abundance of green knowledge with us in DC.

If you're interested in the content of the other sessions at SMPS, be sure to send me an email and I'll share my information with you.

Holy Anoles, Batman!

Living Wall update from Kevin "The Green Man" Songer at Avid Group:

I’ve been pleasantly surprised lately at the noticeable decrease in house flies around our back porch and the same with ants marching across our driveway (obnoxious fly trap bags have been tolerated by my wife, Judy – but really stink…hey – what else can you do with two dogs and a cat in the backyard). Much fewer flies though – so what changed? Walking daily past our recently installed Green Living Walls I was noticing an exponential increase in the abundance of lizards - Cuban Anoles or Anolis sagrei sagrei or to be precise.

Turns out that most lizards are ‘perch height’ acclimated – meaning the
more greenery and plants you have at the preferred perch height – the more
lizards you will have, and as a biologist/lawyer this made sense to me -wherever
the Green is so also will be the predators and prey. Examining the Living
Walls more closely I was amazed at just how many lizards, or anoles there were
perched among the leaves, waiting for the next fly to buzz by.

The organic Atomic Anoles beat out poisonous pesticides any day of the week
in my book, and though I understand Anoles are classified as an invasive species
– but much more tolerable than flies in my book. Got flies in Jacksonville? Then get a Green – living Wall & wait for the atomic pest controllers to arrive…….

Yet another reason to green up your walls. Thanks, Kevin.

Park(ing) Day

Oh, this could be fun....

September 21st is Park(ing) Day. Here's a blurb from Sierra Magazine:

"On September 21, your city may have a little more green space than usual -- at
least for an hour or two. Sparked by the "art-ivism" of the San Fransisco-based group Rebar, people around the world will be turning parking spots into temporary parks to reclaim public space from cars." --Sierra, September/October 2007

Here are the suggestions for how to do it yourself:

1. Find a vacant parking space and feed the meter.

2. Roll out a tarp and some sod.

3. Add plants, benches, and other amenities.

4. Chat with passersby and tell them about the project.

5. Clean up your site and reuse or recycle all materials.

Of course, in downtown Jax, you have to manage all this in one hour. But, it does make you wonder... what would they ticket if you went over your time? Your park bench?

Visit the Park(ing) Day website for more information about local, national, and worldwide initiatives. And thanks to Sierra Magazine for sharing the story. And, as always, snaps to The Trust for Public Land for taking it nationwide.

See you at the park on 9/21!

Can Big Boxes Be Green?

Best Buy has announced that all their upcoming new construction will be LEED certified. Their annual report on sustainability recognizes the cost-effectiveness of high-performance building and expects the plan to save the retailer 1/3 on their annual energy costs.

"In its annual sustainability report, the company stated that it's upping its green cred beyond ink-cartridge and cell-phone recycling, to jump into the complicated world of green building. Beginning in early to mid-2008, the company
intends to build only eco-friendly stores, certified by the USGBC through LEED
-- a program approved by many eco-activists for its tough standards and
inspections. " -Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, August 10, 2007

The Internet has been abuzz with talk. Can a "big box" store be green? Can a store that covers thousands of square feet of space, often placed in the midst of suburban sprawl be sustainable?

For another point of view, I refer you to Treehugger and their "Lipstick on a Pig Dept":

"Best Buy's ambition to build with "some combination of energy-efficient lighting, rainwater recycling, recycled or otherwise eco-friendly building materials, a high-efficiency HVAC system and some type of day-lighting system" is laudable, but meaningless. The big box model, with its acres of parking where it is almost impossible to walk to the other stores, let alone the big box farm, is unsustainable and has to be stopped.

There is no such thing as a green big box, period. " --Lloyd Alter, www.treehugger.com, August 15, 2007

Do we give Best Buy a thumbs up for their efforts to green their established business? Or do we give them a permanent thumbs down for not changing their chronically unsustainable building?

Is it the first, noble step towards green? Or is it laughable greenwashing?

Urban Gardens

I just received an e-mail from Kevin "The Green Man" Songer at Avid Group with a photo of an urban garden designed by his wife, Judy. It's really quite incredible (and I'm completely inspired to step my gardening efforts).

Here's a snippet from his e-mail:

Attached is a photo of an urban backyard culinary herb garden in San Marco, designed by my wife Judy. Judy’s passion lies in designing and creating organic, low maintenance and productive urban gardens. Urban backyard gardens not only create a sense of space, but they provide an easy way to create exciting mealtime dishes, full of exotic, healthy flavors. Most are very drought tolerant and easily survive Florida’s brutal summer. Though the garden pictured is an informal garden, it is just as easy to create a formal layout – depending upon the owner’s preference. The beauty of the urban garden concept is that it can be created with only a few packets of seeds, a weekend of ground preparation and a gentle watering in. Urban gardens are a great place to use recycled items such as broken concrete for stepping stones, discarded bedframes for plant supports, etc…. My favorite urban herb
garden dish is “papas fritas con romero fresca” - or fried potatoes and fresh rosemary.

Urban gardens provide wonderful habitat for butterflies and hummingbirds, add a wonderful scent to the air surrounding your home and thrive on neglect (most herbs originally grew as weeds).

I can grow weeds. No problem. I can speak from experience on growing herbs: They literally take care of themselves. In the course of 4 months, I've killed and revived a basil plant, uprooted and re-rooted cilantro, watched dill flourish (and nearly overtake) my container garden, and overwatered and underwatered them all nearly to decimation. If I can do it (and grow useable herbs) you can, too.

This is such a sustainable approach to your back yard. Have it give something back to you for once.

Avoid the Green Monster

Ewww.

I was browsing the St. John's Riverkeeper website which led to browsing the web for photos of past algae blooms. My daughter summed it up nicely: "It looks kinda cool... in that horror-movie creepy sorta way."

Welcome to Jacksonville. Let me introduce you to our "horror-movie creepy" river.

*sigh*

"Algae blooms are caused by too many nutrients. One source of nutrients is
the fertilizers that enter our river through storm drains and from runoff.
Algae blooms, pesticides and herbicides can harm us and our river." -- St.
Johns Riverkeeper

So, what can we do? Today? Right now? Here's a list (taken directly from the wonderful resources at St. John's Riverkeeper):

• Slow it down: Use only slow-release, low-phosphorous fertilizers, or have your lawn service do so. Use organic fertilizers, if possible. Avoid fertilizers that contain chemical weed killers. Remember, less is best. Use no more than necessary. And always try to avoid applying fertilizers before a heavy rain.


• Twice is nice: Make your grass stronger by watering no more than twice a week, and only if necessary. Water early in the morning and adjust sprinklers to only water your grass, not streets and driveways.


• Put it to bed: Create beds with low-maintenance plants next to streets, driveways and waterways to help prevent runoff and reduce lawn size. Consider using native plants. Use an organic mulch (not cypress) around plants to retain moisture and slow runoff.


• The drain is for the rain: Never sweep clippings or debris down the storm drain. Drains eventually lead to the river. Mow high and keep your blade sharp. Never cut off more than one third of the grass blade. This will result in a healthier lawn and cut down on the amount of fertilizers and water you need to use.

Once you've done those (and instilled those practices as habit with you and your family), consider becoming a member of St. John's Riverkeeper. They need your $$ to continue their work.

Does your opinion count?

Here at Sustainabuild, it does.

In the interest of very informal research, I've added a poll question on the left-hand side of the screen. (Look over there <----- ) Please take a moment to share your opinion on this and upcoming subjects.

You're the voice of Green Building. Hear it roar!

15 Top Green Buildings

Starting the week off with a bit of light-hearted humor is, in my opinion, the best. So, I jumped over to Grist for some playful eco-humor. For those of you not familiar with Grist, from their "About Grist" section:

"Let's face it: Reading environmental journalism too often feels like eating your vegetables. Boiled. With no butter. But at Grist, we believe that news about green issues and sustainable living doesn't have to be predictable, demoralizing, or dull. We butter the vegetables! And add salt! And strain metaphors!"

"Grist: it's gloom and doom with a sense of humor. So laugh now -- or the planet gets it."

Now that's funny. :-)

On August 10th, Grist submitted their 15 Green Buildings List and found some great inspiration for those that are currently working on green buildings. Here's their top five, and I encourage you to head over there and read the rest:

1. Center for Interactive Research on Sustainability, Vancouver, BC, Canada: "Scheduled to open in 2008, it will feature 100% day-lit workspaces, greenhouse-gas neutrality, and on-site treatment of solid and liquid wastes, and it will serve as a state-of-the-art living laboratory where sustainable building systems can be researched and assessed in action."

2. California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, Sacramento, CA, US: "Completed in 2001, its eco-aspects range from recycled-content ceiling tiles to under-desk worm-composting bins -- and the savings from its green features amount to a cool $1 Million a year." (Worm composting? Umm... cool. But... eww.)

3. CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center, Hyderabad, India: "HQ for the Indian Green Building Council, inaugurated in 2004, was the first building outside the US to earn a LEED platinum rating. It collects rainwater, relies on natural lighting, makes use of solar power, and consumes 55% less energy than a conventional structure."

4. Lewis and Clark State Office Building, Jefferson City, MO, US: "Nearly 75% of the materials used to build it came from within a 500-mile radius, and 50% of the construction waste was recycled. The facility collects rainwater and uses it in toilets, and solar PV cells on the roof provide a portion of its power needs."

5. Swiss Re Tower, London, UK: "Europes first green skyscraper features 40 stories of fabulous, pickle-shaped fun. Fondly known as the Gherkin (and, one might assume, a few less-publishable nicknames), the aerodynamic headquarters of reinsurance company Swiss Re uses 50% less energy than a traditional office building and features gardens on every sixth floor for air purification."

If those weren't inspiring enough, be sure to visit Grist for the rest of the list.

And, until next time... Laugh now. Or the planet gets it. :-)

Green MOCA

From my friend Heather Sams, Director of Development at MOCA:

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville continues its film series
“MOCA Summer Cinema” with a special presentation of the 2006 Academy Award
winner for Documentary Feature An Inconvenient Truth on Wednesday evening,
August 8 starting at 7 p.m. Following the presentation, a panel of environmental
experts will be available for questions on related local issues for
Florida.

A longtime advocate for the environment, former
Vice-President Al Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a
thoughtful and compelling way. An Inconvenient Truth offers a passionate and
inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to draw attention to global
warming and its dramatic effects on the environment. Interspersed with bracing
evidence and future predictions is the story of Gore's personal journey: from an
idealistic college student who first saw a massive environmental crisis looming;
to a young U.S. senator facing a harrowing family tragedy that altered his
perspective; to the man who almost became president but instead returned to the
most important cause of his life - convinced that there is still time to make a
difference. With wit, smarts and hope, An Inconvenient Truth ultimately brings
home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global
warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenge facing
our global civilization.

After the film, a panel of four local
experts will answer questions relating the broad themes presented in the
documentary to local issues of policy, conservation, and
sustainability:

Berdell Knowles is director of government relations
at JEA, following a 20+ year career with Gainesville Regional Utilities. Mr.
Knowles’ responsibilities include monitoring and managing legislative and
regulatory developments at the state and federal levels impacting JEA. Knowles
is also founding president of the Florida Chapter of the American Association of
Blacks in Energy, currently serving on its executive
committee.

Jennifer McCharen is cofounder of the Jacksonville
Carbon Neutral Initiative (JCNI), a local grassroots group working to stimulate
public awareness and debate about global climate change. JCNI engages the public
through education projects and working with the City of Jacksonville to
encourage green initiatives.

Judy Landers is conservation
coordinator with JEA, where she delivers programs that give JEA customers the
tools and knowledge to help them use energy and water wisely. Ms. Landers has a
BS in Environmental Science and Masters in Environmental Policy, and has worked
in the government, non-profit and for-profit sectors, specializing in
communications to promote behavior change.

Todd L. Sack, M.D.,
FACP was appointed to the Florida Energy Commission in 2006 and is a two-term
member and chairperson of the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board.
Additionally Dr. Sack is a member of the Florida Department of Health’s
Community Environmental Health Advisory Board and a member of JEA’s Clean Power
Advisory Board.

In 2006 An Inconvenient Truth received two Academy
Awards, one for Documentary Feature and one for Original Song ("I Need to Wake
Up," music and lyrics by Melissa Etheridge). Directed by Davis Guggenheim, USA;
93 minutes, color, in English (rated PG for mild thematic
elements).

Admission to MOCA Summer Cinema is $6 for
members/students, $8 for non-members. The MOCA Jacksonville box office opens at
6:00 p.m. Film starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. Seating is limited; please arrive
early. For more information about the MOCA Summer Cinema, please visit on-line
at www.mocajacksonville.org/events/film.

Go there. Be part of it. No matter your views. Get your opinion out there and take advantage of the opportunity to share your opinion.

LEED for New Construction Technical Review

The North Florida Chapter of USGBC is hosting a LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations Technical Review Workshop.

October 11, 2007

830am to 500pm

University of North Florida

University Center

Registration for this or any USGBC Workshop is available here.

Why learn about LEED?

Ask any of the 5000 building owners seeking LEED certification right now. Owners and developers are demanding green buildings that save money while protecting the environment and occupant health. The USGBC's LEED Rating System is the nationally recognized rating system for green buildings. LEED is already being used by green building projects in all 50 states, and the market continues to grow.

Who should attend?

Industry professionals seeking to increase their understanding of the LEED for New Construction Rating System and green building strategies, benefits and resources:

• Architects



• Engineers



• Designers



• Developers



• Consultants



• Contractors



• Owners



• Manufacturers

What's covered?

• LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations



• Technical requirements



• Certification process



• Project case studies and strategies



• Green building costs and benefits



• Available tools and resources
  

USGBC workshops are conducted by the top green building practitioners in the country. Currently, Bob Kobet and Paul Shahrari are scheduled to facilite this workshop. Between them, they have significant experience working on LEED projects around the country and promise to be excellent resources.

For information on fees or registration, visit USGBC or shoot me an email.

Living Walls Part 2: Right here in Jax

Kevin Songer at Avid Group sent me these photos of a living wall he designed and constructed for his home here in Jacksonville. Can't you just see these all over the area? I can... If you're interested, shoot him an email:

Are Employees Green at Work?

Sun recently sponsored a Harris Interactive poll on green behaviors in the workplace. Seems like employees are saying one thing and doing another:

• 92 percent of participants said they turn of their lights at home, whereas only 52 percent of workers turn off the light when they leave a room at work.


• 58 percent said they turn off computers at home when they are done using them, whereas only 34 percent does so at work.


• 57 percent of workers are using sleep mode for their home computers, but only 44 percent do so at work.

Of those polled, 73% said they would like their companies to be more environmentally friendly.

Maybe the thought is, "I want my COMPANY to be environmentally friendly. Me, on the other hand... I want to leave the lights on."

Or is that too cynical an approach? Maybe employees simply need gentle reminders? Or, perhaps they would like senior leadership to take the lead? If the CEO is turning off lights in the conference room, surely that trend will flow throughout.

Here are a few other stats:

• Leaving a computer on 24/7 can cost as much as $75 per year, PER COMPUTER.


• If the US's 81 million + office employees shut down computers and turned off lights like they do at home, they could remove enough carbon emissions to equal 6 million cars on the road.


• Unnecessary printing results in approximately $85 a year, per person, in ink and paper waste. How often does that second sheet with one line of print end up the waste bin?

An article on Sustainable IT suggests that the employees may simply not know what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to energy cuts. For example, many employees leave computers on at night believing that patches and updates are downloaded at night. Often, that is the company's policy, despite the availability of software that will 'wake up' a system for updates and then put them back into 'sleep mode'.

The answer seems to be a written company policy encouraging employees to take steps to reduce energy use, waste, and carbon footprint. Open the lines of communication so that employees understand procedures and that they are encouraged to make suggestions on saving. Have senior management take the lead and set the standards for behavior and the habits are sure to follow.

Things to Do Today: Use Less Water

Here's some "fast facts" on water use, courtesy of The Green Remodeler website:

• Older toilets use 3.7 to 7 gallons per flush


• Dishwashers use 8-14 gallons per cycle


• Top-loading washers use 45 gallons per load


• A dripping faucet wastes 15-21 gallons per day


• US water users withdraw enough water to fill a line of Olympic-size swimming pools reaching around the world EVERY DAY (300 billion gallons)


• Although our planet is 71% water, humans depend on a mere .65% of the water for surviva - much of which is polluted.


• About a quarter of the nation's largest industrial plants and water treatment facilities are in serious violation of pollution standards at any one time.


• An estimated 7 million Americans are made sick annually by contaminated tap water; in some rare cases this results in death.

So, in closing... Use less water today. And tomorrow. And, well... pretty much all the time.

The Ground Floor

The Urban Land Institute has always been considered a great source of information on responsible land use and development. Now, you can access real-time updates from their blog, The Ground Floor.

One of their most recent posts included this interesting nugget on environmental investing:

Simon Property Group Vice President for Energy George Caraghiaur was also quoted in the New York Times as saying that investor interest in environmentally
conscious building design, construction and operation means "green for the
environment and for your bottom line." Caraghiaur, who is EPAC's vice chairman,
added that optimal energy performance in buildings can be viewed "as a proxy for
management strength. The smart investors of the world have come to conclude that
energy is a tough thing to manage and that those companies that do manage energy
well are seen as those that manage well -- period."

I've added it our blogroll for future access. Good stuff.