GreenBuild Blog

Friday, March 12, 2010

Keynoting Australia’s Green Cities 2010 Conference

You can email me to get a copy of the presentation. Basically, I pointed out that Architecture 2030 goals call for saving 80 percent of a building’s energy use compared with 2005 averages, but that most LEED certified projects are hitting about the 30 percent level, far below where we need to be to see a major reduction of carbon emissions from the building sector. I suggested that projects that don’t hit their predicted energy goals have their scores reduced to levels consistent with actual performance and, if they fall below minimum LEED performance standards, have their certification revoked. This would bring “truth in advertising” to LEED certification and lead design/construction teams to be more realistic about securing energy performance in new construction. My host Romilly Madew, CEO of the GBCA, emailed me later, saying: “the feedback from your session was fantastic; people talked about all the take-away’s they got from your talk.”

Posted by Jerry on 03/12/2010 at 12:57 PM

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Monday, December 21, 2009

Australian Efficient Building Scheme Allows Buildings to Trade Carbon Reductions

From Maria Atkinson at Lend Lease and Che’ Wall at Lincolne Scott, the Efficient Building Scheme is a proposal for a direct “cap and trade” scheme for building owners that would reduce building sector carbon emissions dramatically and must faster than even the supposed “agreement” at COP 15 in Copenhagen. According to the proposal, “An Efficient Building Scheme is identical to an emissions trading scheme except that it recognizes energy efficiency improvements in non-residential buildings, rather than emissions avoided. Simply put, it treats one ton of greenhouse gas emissions that is not emitted because energy is not used, in the same way that a conventional Emissions Trading Scheme treats one ton of CO2 that is not emitted due to a change in energy generation methods.” In other words, it’s far better to reduce demand than to fiddle with what the power plant has to emit to meet the (higher) demand of a building that wasn’t upgraded in terms of energy requirements. So, in this way, the proposal, “provides a competitive return on investments in emissions r eduction initiatives, which would drive significant greenhouse gas abatement through energy efficiency improvements.” Well worth a look for all large property owners in the U.S., as well as the U.S. government.

Posted by Jerry on 12/21/2009 at 11:33 AM

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Green Building Spurs Construction Waste Recycling

New report quotes largest builder Turner Construction’s Michael Deane: We’re recycling better than 50 percent across our portfolio, with more than 50 percent of projects fully documented. LEED and green building standards and practices have had a huge impact on increasing the rate of construction waste recycling.

Posted by Jerry on 12/21/2009 at 11:30 AM

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Monday, November 09, 2009

LEED Certification Challenges and Approaches: Chapter 10 of Greening Existing Buildings

This chapter addresses the specific issues associated with managing successful certification projects, including creating the project team, engaging with the commissioning and certification process, conducting team meetings, tracking team progress, and justifying economic costs and benefits. Leading consultants provide a number of tips for getting EBOM projects done on an accelerated timetable. The company or organization needs to change purchasing and operating practices, and change its specifications for remodels and renovations. Approaches also differ between government and private sector projects.