Green real estate. Commercial. Residential. Tenant. Owner. Design.
Green is the new gold standard. It is impossible to turn on the tv or attend a conference without hearing at least a small discussion about the latest in green. Green is not a fad, it's a trend. Green is part of your life and its importance continues to grow. It is because of this trend that those involved in real estate must seek council for how to best design, create, and utilize properties in an environmentally conscious manner.
Table of Contents
- Green Debate
- Green Standards
- Studying to become LEED accredited?
- Green Articles
- Green Commercial Real Estate News
- Boomerang: a sustainable design life lesson
- Why Green is Important
- Public Voice - Poll
- News/Commentary on Environment + Technology
- Green Law/Politics
- Green Homes
- Public Voice - Questions, Comments, Rants?
- Green Resources
- Green Work in Washington, D.C.
- Green World
- Public Voice - Poll
- Green Building News
- New Polaroid
Green Debate
The USGBC has set forth standards for both LEED-NC (New Construction) and LEED-EB (Existing Building). In cities such as Washington, D.C. a new building typically means removal of an existing structure, which is inherently wasteful on 2 fronts, both in the discarded materials and the energy going into deconstruction as well as the manufacturing, shipment and installation of new materials.
What are your thoughts on this? Should only EB be pursued on sites where there is an existing building? What are the reasons that would make building removal acceptable? How green is green?
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CvilleScott
Aug 20, 2008 @ 10:14 am | delete
- Each circumstance is different. Does the structure have some historical value which must be preserved? If not, does the structure simply not have features which are not up to par today (low slab-to-slab height, etc)? Will the community benefit from a new structure with additional public features if the building's footprint is resized (added park or public benches)? All these factors play into whether or not the structure should be torn down; "energy savings" is not the only requirement.
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Green Standards
- LEED by USGBC
- The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system developed by the US Green Building Council. The most widely used standard for green construction.
- SPiRiT by USACE
- The Sustainable Project Rating Tool developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Studying to become LEED accredited?
Try these resources
Green Articles
- Green Design is Good Design
- Information on how the Durrant Group has designed a green office for very little premium and hopes to gain LEED platinum rating. Article by Gary Bechtel (Sustainable Land Development Today - Feb 28, 2008)
- Study: shoppers have a $104B appetite for green products
- "The 2007 National Technology Readiness Survey sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Service at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, and the technology research firm Rockbridge Associates Inc. found that there was a potential for sales this year of $104 billion for environmentally friendly consumer products and technologies. "
- Builders find that green sells well in new homes
- The green movement has made its way into the housing sector and some developers are finding that despite the "housing slump" green homes are selling more quickly and for a premium than their non-green brethren. "The question is not do you want to do green. It's how far do you want to go?" ~John Goldman, owner of 3DG Architecture and Design
- Preservation seen as ultimate in green building
- Maybe building that shiny new green building isn't a good idea if it means tearing down the existing structure. These tear downs and new construction come at a big cost to the environment between trashed materials and the energy used for demolition, shipment of new materials, and construction. It could be that the preserved building is THE green building.
- CoStar finds Green Real Estate Outperforms
- This study finds that buildings labeled as green, typically with the LEED or Energy Star rating, beat their peers in sales price, occupancy, and rental rate.
- Green Buildings Expected to Receive Lower Financing
- Lenders should be discounting financing for green buildings as "non-green" buildings have additional risk both in operations and in obsolescence.
- Moves Aim for Greener Rooftops in NYC, Nationwide
- Article discusses both the new partnership between GE Energy and GAF Materials Corp to develop solar roofing systems as well as the NYC tax credit for building owners who install green roofs.
Building owners in New York City who install green rooftops will now receive a significant tax credit. Under this new law, those who install green roofs on at least 50 percent of available rooftop space can apply for a one-year property tax credit of up to $100,000. The credit would be equal to $4.50 per square foot of roof area that is planted with vegetation, or approximately 25 percent of the typical costs associated with the materials, labor, installation and design of the green roof.
Green roof benefits include: reduction in energy use, it doubles or triples the lifetime of the roof, and it decreases the amount of stormwater runoff. - JLL buys Greenglobes
- Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (NYSE: JLL) purchased the developer of Green Globes. A JLL representative reasoned, "The marketplace is begging for a tool that will enable a quick assessment. Owners who have a large portfolio of existing buildings want to know where they stack up in terms of LEED. We think Green Globes is a great tool for doing that baseline assessment, and generating some recommendations to improve the buildings' overall performance."
Green Commercial Real Estate News
by Costar
Boomerang: a sustainable design life lesson
Why Green is Important
- Carbon Output Must Near Zero To Avert Danger, New Studies Say
- Washington Post Article (Juliet Eilperin - March 10, 2008) reviewing recent studies which point to the current carbon emissions worldwide and what must be done in order to keep the earth from warming.
Public Voice - Poll
If you answer "Other", please tell us why in the "Questions, Comments, Rants" section below.
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News/Commentary on Environment + Technology
by The Green Wombat
Green Law/Politics
- Carbon Output Must Near Zero To Avert Danger, New Studies Say
- Review of recent studies which point to the current carbon emissions worldwide and what must be done in order to keep the earth from warming. Brief overview of Clinton, McCain, and Obama stances on reducing US emissions. (Washington Post Article, by Juliet Eilperin - March 10, 2008)
- '08 Candidates on Energy
- CNN overview of candidates stances on energy policy.
- '08 Candidates on Environment
- CNN overview of candidates stances on environmental policy.
- The Environmental Law Institute
- "ELI [Is] an internationally recognized, non-partisan research and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide.
- Washington, D.C. Enacts Green Building Requirements for Private Projects
- "Washington, D.C.'s Green Building Act of 2006 went into effect on March 8, 2007. The act establishes new standards for "green building," applicable to both private and public projects in the nation's capital. It requires compliance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System created by the United States Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization." (ConstructionWeblinks, By Emily A. Jones
Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP - April 16, 2007) - D.C. Moves to Become Pioneer In Forcing 'Green' Construction
- District Council is making moves towards Green mandates to take effect by 2012. (Washington Post, By Nikita Stewart - Nov 16, 2006)
- Boston, D.C., Adopt Green Building Rules for Private Development
- "Boston is the first major U.S. city to implement a green building zoning code. "Article 37" will require all major new and rehabilitation construction projects exceeding 50,000 square feet to earn 26 LEED®-New Construction (NC) points, and a proposed further 4 points reflecting city priorities, including transportation, energy, historic preservation, and groundwater recharge. The city will not require third-party certification; Boston officials will review and confirm developers' certifications. Additionally, Washington, D.C., is poised to become the first U.S. city to mandate sustainability guidelines for privately owned real estate." (AIArchitect, by Brooks Rainwater, Manager, State and Local Issues and Programs - Feb 2, 2007)
- DSire
- Searchable by locality, this database provides information for "green building rebates, tax credits, and other financial incentives."
- McCain and Obama on Green Policies
- A basic overview of how the two would handle some business related green policies, focusing mainly on the "cap and trade" policy. McCain would prefer to give away most (and auction off some) of the tax credits to large companies and then allow the companies to use their savings to invest in alternate energies. Obama would prefer to auction all the tax credits and use the sum to invest in - green collar job research (???), alternate energy research, as well as other environmental related studies, which may or may not include pork barrel initiatives ("Senator John Kerry has suggested that federal funds be used to protect New England's lobster industry from the effects of global warming").
- DC - Clean & Affordable Energy Act
- Small article by WBJ on the recently passed Clean & Affordable Energy Act. An amendment to this bill now allows commercial building owners to submeter for tenants. This is a great move towards a greener DC as submetering gives each tenant a "scorecard" of their own to judge their consumption against, as well as provides an individualized financial incentive for each tenant.
- Green Incentives Set to Expire
- The energy industry relies heavily on government support for green initiatives. This CNN video discusses the battle in congress and some of its effects.
Green Homes
- Sungevity
- This company allows you to find your house online, calculate the squarefootage you could install solar panels on, figures your return on investment, and then will ship the panel system to your house, where they will send a crew to install. They have been called the Dell of solar panels.
- Living Homes
- Their site says it best...
"We build homes created by world-class architects, which feature warm, modern design, functional amenities, and great price value.
Our homes include natural, non-toxic and sustainably-derived materials; and they're made in specially equipped factories that ensure unsurpassed quality, lower construction cost and waste, and shorten schedules.
The result of all this: healthier, happier homes that have a dramatically smaller ecological footprint than most new homes." - The Nuts and Bolts of Solar
- Radio segment on "Solar energy was once dismissed as something that only appealed to hard-core environmentalists and the rich. But concerns about high energy costs and the environment have many people giving solar power a second look. We'll talk with local residents about how to pursue solar for your home without breaking the bank."
- Chesapeake Solar, LLC
- Company in the Mid-Atlantic bringing solar power to you.
- Solar Calculator
- Crude calculator, but gives you a quick and dirty run down of estimated costs and monthly electric savings.
- The Greenest House?
- Check out this CNN video/interview on the "greenest house". The owner shares some of the construction and energy usage information.
Public Voice - Questions, Comments, Rants?
You're here already so please add to our discussion.
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ScottHoward
Apr 1, 2008 @ 8:42 am | delete
- A saying which I have used since being President of the Ecology Club in high school is: "We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children" ~(Anon.) This poignant quote seems to be even more pertinent today as attention gets focused on this very serious issue. Please share your experience with environmental/green issues, both good and bad so we can all learn.
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Green Resources
- CNN - Green Solutions
- Helpful articles and videos with content that can help you run a green househould, purchase green, think green, and live green.
- US Green Building Council (USGBC)
- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 13,500 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Members includes building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies, and nonprofits.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
- The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System%u2122 encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.
- The Environmental Law Institute
- "ELI [Is] an internationally recognized, non-partisan research and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide.
- GreenHome.org
- GreenHOME works to make affordable housing and its neighborhoods green in Washington, D.C. and the National Capital Region.
- GreenerBuildings.com
- The self proclaimed, "... resource center for environmentally responsible building development". Provides green articles, study documentation, and links to green resources.
- Oikos.com
- A "Green Building Source" - providing reference information to find a variety of green building products for use in your projects. Includes everything from concrete to equipment to finishes.
- The Green Building Initiative
- Works to increase knowledge of workable green building solutions. With increased knowledge will come increased demand.
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
- DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency
Green Work in Washington, D.C.
- Green Roofs Provide Natural Drainage, Cleaner Rivers
- The U.S. Department of Transportation Headquarters includes what was designed at the time to be the largest green roof on the east coast. Although others may have surpassed the size by now, the intent of the roof has been met... an industry leading green roof which has a good return for both the environment and the developer.
- First LEED Platinum Office Proposed in Nation's Capital
- CoStar reports that Vornado/Charles E. Smith and PNC are planning to develop a 12-story LEED Platinum building in DC. In order to build the new 365,000 SF office building, an existing building at 800 17th St. NW as well as two adjacent buildints will need to be torn dorn.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT for the readers. This building would be constructed under the LEED-NC (New Construction) guidelines. A growing faction of the "green" real estate community supports LEED-EB (Existing Building), where a developer would work within the constructs of the existing structure in order to reduce waste. By using the existing structure, waste is avoided both from the deconstructed materials, as well as the production and shipment of new/replacement materials. - Clean & Affordable Energy Act
- Small article by WBJ on the recently passed Clean & Affordable Energy Act. An amendment to this bill now allows commercial building owners to submeter for tenants. This is a great move towards a greener DC as submetering gives each tenant a "scorecard" of their own to judge their consumption against, as well as provides an individualized financial incentive for each tenant.
- Solar Energy in DC
- WAMA talks to local solar companies about how to implement solar power and basic cost information.
Green World
Everyone's getting the green fever... here are a few recent examples.
- Peddling Healthful Street Food To Eco-Urbanites: Will It Fly?
- Article about a new company, On the Fly, "offering locally produced, good-for-you food in both mobile and bricks-and-mortar cafes -- 'smartkarts' and 'smartkafes' -- that are showing up in downtown Washington." "It's Whole Foods meets 7-Eleven,"
- Enviro Taxi Cabs
- Press statement from EnviroTaxiCabs - the nation's first all-hybrid taxicab fleet, which opened in Washington, DC. The fleet consists of hybrid Toyota Priuses, Camrys and Highlanders as well as Ford Escapes. Standard taxi-cab rates apply so you can go green for no premium!
- Green Collar Jobs
- The workplace is turning more eco-friendly, creating new occupations.
- Green Savings
- Video from CNN.com which goes through potential savings of several "green lifestyle choices."
- 11 Green Entrepreneurs
- View the up and coming technologies, from 3 wheeled 100 mile/gallon vehicles, to eco-friendly garment shopping.
- Green It. Mean It. by Fox
- In honor of earth day... even the Fox network wants to get involved. Check out the resources this network points toward.
- See how others are going green
- IReporters share their green stories
- See how other countries go green
- CNN article on what the rest of the world is doing.
- Jack Johnson's Green Record Label
- Jack Johnson is known for his easy going music, but he is also paving the way as a green record label, even taking carbon footprint reducing steps for concerts.
Public Voice - Poll
If you answer "Other", please tell us why in the "Questions, Comments, Rants" section above.
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Green Building News
by GreenerBuildings.com
“Green is not a fad, it's a trend. Green is part of your life and its importance continues to grow.”
by ScottHoward
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