Major Trends in Green Building for 2012

Claire Easley the senior editor at Builder recently published an article about Jerry Yudelson impressions for the green building industry in 2012. Yudelson has more than 25 years of work in sustainability, he has been a member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s board of directors, a LEED national faculty member, and is the co-founder and director of the Green Building Service consulting unit at Portland General Electric. Last year, Wired magazine dubbed him "the godfather of green."

Video: President Obama's American Jobs Act

On September 8, 2011, President Barack Obama asked Congress to act to provide jobs and spur the economy. Calling it an "urgent time for our country," the President asked Congress to "stop the political circus" and approve a nearly half-trillion-dollar plan to help the economy by cutting payroll taxes, raising taxes on the wealthy and rewarding companies that hire new workers.

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Excerpts of President Obama's American Jobs Act Speech

President Obama is seeking to grow the economy and create employment through a combination of tax cuts, government incentives and reforms to entitlement programs. Obama's jobs plan is modeled on bipartisan initiatives that include transit projects that will help to build a 21st century transportation infrastructure. Specifically Obama called for faster trains, fuel-efficient cars and advanced biofuels. The President indicated that he will not forgo regulations that compromise the health, safety and security of the American people. The plan will help to build energy infrastructure such as power transmission, and it will support energy efficiency overhauls for public and commercial buildings. The President also called for improvements in water infrastructure and eliminating tax loopholes for oil companies. See excerpts of the Obama speech below:

Suffolk University's Green Efforts Include Building Design

Boston's Suffolk University has building projects that incorporate environmentally sound construction processes and sustainable principles in their design. New buildings use water conservation fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC equipment, and recycled materials. Suffolk’s 10 West Residence Hall, which opened in 2008, received LEED Gold certification.

25 Blogs Leading the Sustainable Building Revolution

Green building is proliferating around the world, homes schools, hospitals, as well as government and commercial buildings are increasingly incorporating sustainable design. According to Environmental Science Degrees, here are 25 leading blogs that specialize in sustainable building.

1. Green Home Building and Sustainable Architecture: The author of this blog is well-versed in sustainable design, having previously resided in an earthbag and papercrete home that he designed.
2. Inhabitat: Newly and uniquely designed green buildings from throughout the world are displayed, including the beautiful Nissam Villas in Singapore.
3. Greenversations: Green Building Category: Employees of the EPA blog about their experiences and provide advice related to green building.
4. Eco-Business.com: Fittingly, an eco-business site supports sustainable building, providing information about measures being taken to make communities throughout the world greener.
5. Sustainable Industries Blog: The founder of Organic Architect offers his knowledge pertaining to everything from design considerations to efficiency improvements.
6. Green Building Elements: This blog specializes in the “construction of green buildings, ideas and the design behind them.”
7. Campus Green Builder: College students document the efforts of colleges and universities and their students to create eco-friendly campuses.
8. Sustainablog: Green building is one of the many aspects of sustainability covered on Sustainablog.
9. Building Green Blog: Included on this blog is a list of essential priorities in green building.
10. Building My Green Life: The author doesn’t just advocate sustainable building, but also a sustainable life.
11. Sustainable Construction Blog: An architectural engineering student created the Sustainable Construction Blog, which discusses new technology and products in the construction industry that assist sustainability.
12. Sustainable Cities Blog: This blog discusses the actions that cities across the world are taking to become more sustainable.
13. Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce: Building Green Blog: Green building issues in the Pacific Northwest – a notably green area in the US – and beyond are discussed.
14. Environmental Building Strategies: Environmental news that affects contractors and residential professionals is featured on this blog.
15. GreenBuildingAdvisor.com’s Green Building Blog: In this blog, readers can learn how to make their home more sustainable inside and out after perusing through the posts on this site.
16. iGreenBuild.com Blog: An excellent source for sustainable building information, addressing everything from sustainable design to environmental issues.
17. Green Built Blog: This blog contains lots of information pertaining to green housing, including green design trends and green developments.
18. Green Strides: Tips on green dorm living, fencing and eco-friendly garden fountains are offered on this blog.
19. GreenBuilder Blog: Experts from the green building movement offer their two cents of news in the industry and various other issues.
20. 100k House Blog: A blog that began as a journal of quest to build a $100,000 LEED Platinum home has evolved into a full-fledged source for green building info.
21. The Deans of Green: The Deans of Green live up to their name by offering details about green building and living.
22. Sustainable Building Codes: The author is a building code regulator who advocates the revision of modern building codes in order to encourage more sustainable construction.
23. Green Building Law Update: Issues in the green building industry that hinder progress are brought to light by a construction consultant.
24. Green Building Law Blog: Although the blog is run by an attorney based in Baltimore, insight is given into green building law and issues that affect the country.
25. Green Building Law: Green Building Law is based in the Pacific Northwest, but it covers a variety of green building legal issues important to people nationwide – not unlike Green Building Law Blog.


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The Extraordinary Growth of Green Building

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is celebrating its first billion square feet of LEED certified green buildings. Another six billion square feet of projects around the world are part of the LEED program.

LEED is a widely recognized program that requires reductions in energy and water, it also makes use of recyclable and non-toxic materials. LEED certified buildings save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED program was created by the USGBC in 2000. Since its introduction, more than 36,000 commercial projects and 38,000 single family homes have participated in LEED.

Green building continued to grow even through a deep economic recession. The US green building market has expanded dramatically since 2008 and according to a new report titled, Green Outlook 2011, by McGraw-Hill Construction, it is projected to double in size by 2015.
Green construction starts increased from $42 billion in 2008 to $71 billion in 2010, and it is expected to grow to $135 billion by 2015.

In the commercial sector, one-third of all new projects are now built to green standards and it is projected to triple in the next five years.

A survey of building owners indicated that green projects reduce operating costs (13.6% on average for new buildings and 8.5% for retrofits), increase building values (10.9% for new buildings and 6.8% for retrofits) and increase their return on investment (9.9% for new buildings and 19.2% for retrofits.)

The report indicates that the extraordinary growth of green buildings is attributable to the owners' desire for market differentiation and growing public awareness. This growth is also due to an increase in government regulation and legislation. As of September 2010, 12 federal agencies and 33 states had green building legislation and initiatives. Local government initiatives increased from 156 localities in 2008 to 384 localities in 2010.

Harvey M. Bernstein, a vice president of McGraw-Hill Construction, said in a statement. "In today's economy, firms that specialize in green or serve this market are seeing a tremendous advantage."


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USGBC's Green School Building Resources

With nearly 140,000 schools, colleges and universities in the United States the issue of green schools is an important one for students and environmental health. Green school buildings have a much smaller footprint and serve both as models and as valuable educational tools.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reports that 68 percent of high school students are looking for a green campus, the unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of schools are far from green.

Recently, the USGBC's Center for Green Schools was launched to work toward the ambitious goal of ensuring everyone has the opportunity to attend a green school.

Here are eleven green building resources from the USGBC:

Center for Green Schools

Introduction to the Center for Green Schools
USGBC Launches Center for Green Schools (PDF)

Green School Tools, Information and News

Green School 101
Green Existing Schools ToolKit
LEED, the national benchmark for high-performance schools
Read the most recent green schools news
Local, state and federal initiatives supporting green schools
Find videos, research, case studies and other resources

Student Action

How to get involved with green building
Government involvement and what you can do
Pass a resolution


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LAUSD Green School Initiatives

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is going green to reduce costs and be more efficient. LAUSD is slashing greenhouse-gas emissions with the aim of becoming one of the greenest school districts in the country.

The LAUSD's goal is to reduce energy and water use by 10% from 2007 levels by 2013. However, with over 14,000 buildings, 700,000 students, spread out over 710 square miles, the district currently uses more water and energy than any other in the state.

The LAUSD also has over 1,300 school buses, but in March 2010, hundreds of decades-old buses were upgraded to less polluting, more energy efficient propane models.

With half of California's water going to outdoor use, some schools were outfitted with smart irrigation systems that reduce water consumption for landscaping.

Eight schools, out of a planned 250, are having solar power installed. LAUSD plans to install 50 megawatts of solar photovoltaics, which could save the district more than $20 million annually.

The districts 44 planned campuses are being built in compliance with green building standards known as the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). CHPS is the United States' first green building rating program specifically designed for K-12 schools.

LAUSD continues to develop core math, science, language-arts and social-studies curriculum have hands-on learning opportunities that draw on the district’s sustainability initiatives.

The LAUSD is a model for the nation, they are trying to prove that by reducing their footprint they can provide cost savings that free precious resources.
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New York's Leed Certified Universities

Two New York universities, Ithaca College and Hamilton College, have received recognition for their green achievements.

Ithaca College has been awarded two Energy Star certifications for residence halls Clarke and Hood and a platinum LEED award for a business building on campus.

Hamilton College has been awarded two Energy Star certifications for residence halls Skenandoa and Spencer, in addition to the LEED Gold certification for the renovation of the 40-year-old Kirner-Johnson (KJ) Building.

Energy Star certification enhances efficiency by at least 75% compared to traditional buildings based utility bills and energy consumption volume and costs. A LEED certified building must score well in 5 categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
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Green Building Social Benefits

Although the environmental and economic benefits of green buildings are increasingly well known, the social benefits of green buildings are often ignored. Here is a summary of some of the research supporting the social benefits of green building.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, health and well being are supported by the indoor air quality inherent in green buildings. Poor indoor air resulting from insufficient air circulation, poor lighting, mold, temperature variances, carpeting, furniture materials, pesticides, toxic adhesives, paints, and other pollutants contribute to respiratory problems, allergies, nausea, headaches, and skin rashes.

The Heschong Mahone Group, found that green building that emphasizes ventilation and non-toxic, low emitting materials create healthier and more comfortable living and working environments.

According to a U.S. Green Building Council report titled, "Building Momentum: National Trends and Prospects for High-Performance Green Buildings," an estimated 40% of schools in the United States have poor environmental conditions that compromise the health and learning of students.

According to a Paladino & Company study titled "Washington High Performance School Buildings: Report to Legislature," green schools result in a 15% reduction in student absenteeism.

Improvements in test scores have also been shown in green schools. According to a study called "Greening America's Schools Costs and Benefits," a review of 30 green schools across the country concluded that "based on a very substantial data set on productivity and test performance of healthier, more comfortable study and learning environments, a 3-5% improvement in learning ability and test scores in green schools appears reasonable and conservative."
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Green Building Economic Benefits

When it comes to green buildings the benefits far outweigh the costs. The costs of these buildings are about the same as traditional development projects. One study indicates that green buildings are 2 percent more expensive than conventional buildings.

A large number of economic advantages more than offset the minor increase in costs. Here is a summary of the research on the economic advantages of green building.

According to a study from Syphers, Geof, et al. titled "Managing the Cost of Green Building," higher construction costs can be avoided by the inclusion of green design from the outset of the project. The investment of an additional 3% of project costs in the design phase can reduce construction costs by 10%.

A business case titled "Making the Business Case for High Performance Green Building," by the U.S. Green Building Council, indicates that energy and water savings allow an average green premium recovery period of 3-5 years.

The same business case makes the point that green buildings increase property values. The low operating costs and easy maintenance of green buildings make for lower vacancy rates and higher property values. Investment in energy efficiency and low-priced power at the USAA Realty Company's La Paz Office Plaza in Orange County, CA led to an $0.80-per-square-foor-market value improvement, or a $1.5 million increase in value.

Green buildings improve employee health and prevent absences. According to a U.S. Green Building Council report titled "Making the Business Case for High Performance Green Buildings," Lockheed Martin's green facility in Sunnydale, CA, had a 15% drop in employee absenteeism, a savings which made up for the building's green premium in the first year alone.

A January 2000 report from the US Environmental Protection Agency titled, "Energy Cost and IAQ Performance of Ventilation Systems and Controls," demonstrates that major reductions in health care costs and work losses result from improvements to indoor environments.

Employee productivity has been positively correlated with indoor environmental conditions. According to a report titled, "Health and Productivity Gains from Better Indoor Environments and Their Relationship to Building Energy Efficiency," improvements to indoor environmental conditions are estimated to have generated $20 to $160 billion nationally in workforce productivity gains.

A 1999 study from The Heschong Mahone Group, showed increased sales in stores that utilized natural light. The study called "Skylighting and Retail Sales: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Daylighting and Human Performance," surveyed 108 outlet stores and found that sales were 40% higher in stores using skylights instead of electric lighting.

For useful tools to help assess the economic benefits of green building go to the US EPA.
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Green Building Environmental Benefits

Due to its environmental benefits, green buildings are an ever increasing driver in the new green economy. Here is a summary of the major environmental benefits afforded by green building.

Emissions reductions are achieved in green buildings through the use of less environmentally harmful materials and decreased reliance on fossil fuel fired electricity.

Renewable sources of energy and efficiency initiatives reduce anthropogenic contributions to global climate change, and diminish emissions that compromise air quality and human health.

Water conservation and recycling rainwater can yield significant water savings. Stormwater management including harvesting and redirection can reduce erosion and flooding.

Temperature moderation can be achieved through conscientious building design and site selection, as well as including trees in the property development planning.

Waste reduction efforts can massively reduce the waste produced in demolition. A 1998 study titled "Deconstruction: Building Disassembly and Material Salvage," from the National Association of Homebuilders, projected that 20 million tons of debris could be diverted from landfills if only one quarter of the buildings demolished every year were deconstructed.

Deconstruction involves the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, recycling, and waste management. It differs from demolition where a site is cleared of its building by the most expedient means.

With their powerful environmental benefits, green building standards are destined to become the basic building standard for all new construction.
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Green School Rejuvenates Dying Town

Three years ago the small town of Greensburg, Kansas was wiped from the map by a deadly tornado, today it is being reborn thanks in part to the building of a new green school. This school is a symbol of the rebirth of a once dying community.

The $50 million, state-of-the-art, LEED Platinum school, was designed by BNIM. The school boasts two new gyms, a new food court-style cafeteria area, and an outdoor classroom. Motion sensors ensure that the students use only the light they need. Exterior walls are windows, reducing the amount of light needed during the day. Geothermal systems provide the heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. A wind turbine near the football field provides energy. Five cisterns around the school catch and store rainwater for the landscaping.

The school expects to save 40 percent or more in utility costs. Lowered utility bill frees up money for educational improvements. The school has also incorporated sustainability into its curriculum. In science, students learn about renewable sources of energy like geothermal.

The town's sustainable school is making a big difference. Greensburg GreenTown, offers tours and demonstrates sustainable living with the school as the main attraction. The school is not the only green building town, the courthouse was remodeled to be energy-efficient. In the future Greensburg plans to build more sustainable buildings including a library/museum and a movie theater. Greensburg is remaking itself as a model green town.

The City Administrator began talking about building a better and more sustainable town in the days after the tornado. Town leaders knew that building green was a way to set their community apart. Now, thanks to one green school a small town is basking in national attention.

Greensburg has discovered that being a model green community has lucrative benefits.
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Da Vinci Arts Middle School in Portland

The da Vinci Arts Middle School in Portland Oregon has the first and only LEED-platinum and net zero energy use classroom in America. LEED-plantinum is the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest rating for energy efficiency. A zero energy building (ZEB) or net zero energy building is a general term applied to buildings with zero net energy consumption and zero annual carbon emissions.

The 1,500-square foot music classroom and studio was constructed from plans developed by architecture firm SRG Partnership and the University of Oregon’s Energy Studies in Buildings Lab. The school's features include a passive temperature control system and solar roof tiles. These and other green features yield an efficiency improvement of 70 percent over Oregon building code requirements.

Gutters capture rain for landscape irrigation and use as greywater inside the building. The school's experimental natural lighting system called “the Halo” provides adequate light, even with overcast skies, making additional light sources entirely unnecessary during the day. The sun’s rays pass through a diffuser which spreads the light evenly throughout the room. After dark, by amplifying and dispersing small amounts of electric light, the diffuser requires only half the energy normally required by traditional classroom lighting.

The da Vinci school teaches sustainability by example and it seems to be infectious. Even in their extra-curricular activities, students at the school show their loyalty to green. A project by da Vinci's after school class, Community Evolution / Garden Revolution, built a greenhouse for the residents of Dignity Village. See their blog for details.

The da Vinci addition is only the beginning, every public school building in Portland will be subject to rebuilding or remodeling over the next 20 years. An assessment of the performance of the various green featurs of the da Vinici school will help determine which sustainable features will be integrated into future classrooms.
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The Future of Green School Buildings

The greening of schools is leading the green building trend. With large numbers of public schools deteriorating, boards across the US are taking a serious look at new green schools and retrofits that save energy as well as improve learning.

In the US, Federal incentives are already helping boards to green their schools. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s fiscal stabilization fund, $48.6 billion was awarded to the US Department of Education. The construction, renovation and repair of green school buildings qualify for these government funds.

In the future all levels of government as well as new building codes will contribute to even greener schools. The next generation of green schools can be expected to do an even better job of controlling temperature, air, light and noise.

Each classroom will have independent climate controls and the ability to independently deliver fresh-air. Part of delivering fresh air, involves the ability to open high and low windows that can quickly refresh a room without drafts. Green schools will also manage solar overheating with awnings and shades that do not eliminate light or obscure the view.

The next generation of green schools will also do a better job of managing traffic noise, room reverberation, and noise transmission between rooms.

New green schools will be designed with materials that are easy to clean. This is important because the cleanliness of surfaces directly contributes to indoor air quality. Materials used in desk and contact surfaces must be easily disinfected to help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

As early adopters of new innovations green schools will continue to improve their environmental, health and performance benefits.
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Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Ventilation

The kind of ventilation we see in green schools, promotes wellness and supports a healthy learning environment.

Poor ventilation is often behind sick building syndrome, which is known to cause symptoms including eye, nose, and throat irritations; headaches; fatigue; difficulty breathing; itching; and dry, irritated skin.

The primary purpose of a building’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is to provide comfort for the occupants by meeting thermal requirements and diluting contaminants. HVAC systems accomplish this through the conditioning of outside air coming into occupied spaces and the removal of irritants and pollutants.

Green school guidelines typically address HVAC systems as they relate to energy efficiency, indoor air quality (ventilation), moisture control, filter efficiencies and maintenance, and the elimination of CFC-based refrigerants.

In a comprehensive review of the literature related to indoor air quality, ventilation, and health symptoms in schools, Daisey et al. (2003) found that a significant proportion of classrooms did not meet the minimum ventilation standards. A variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols (primarily molds and fungi, dust mites, and animal antigens) could be found in school environments.

Reducing indoor pollutants, providing adequate quantities of outside air, and ensuring that the ventilation system is properly maintained have all been linked to reducing absenteeism, improving teacher productivity and student learning. In a 2006 study of 54 elementary schools, researchers identified a 14.4 percent improvement in standardized math test scores in classrooms with a ventilation rate that was double the norm.

Through moisture management, pollutant source control and adequate ventilation rates, green schools have cleaner air and thus a healthier environment more conducive to learning.
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Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Natural Lighting

The use of natural light in green schools benefits students, teachers and administrators. By reducing energy requirements, natural light also offers an environmentally friendly means of bettering the bottom line.

The sun provides higher light levels than traditional lighting while reducing energy costs. Natural light affords excellent illumination of educational materials and this appears to improve test scores. A well known school-building study, completed by the Heschong Mahone Group, identifies test scores 7-26 percent higher for schoolchildren in classrooms with plentiful natural light than for those in classrooms with little or no daylight.

A study from Alberta Education, titled A Study into the Effects of Light on Children of Elementary School Age indicates that natural light does have a positive effect on health and on rates of achievement. Children in classrooms with a natural spectrum of light including trace amounts of UV radiation had 1.75 fewer cavities than children in schools with traditional lighting. Children exposed to high pressure sodium vapor lighting were absent 3.2 days per year more than students in classrooms with full spectrum light.

The Alberta Education study also linked scholastic achievement to natural lighting. Students exposed to high-pressure sodium vapor lighting demonstrated the poorest rate of academic achievement.

A Sacramento California study titled, Light Helps Pupils Learn, is one of the largest ever done on natural light in schools and it suggests children learn faster and do better on standardized tests in classrooms with more daylight. Learning rates were 26 percent higher in reading and 20 percent higher in math in rooms with more daylight.

Windows let in light and when opened they provide natural ventilation. Windows also provide visual access to the outdoors, from morning to night and season to season, this is important to our circadian rhythms and our sleep cycles.

Ideally natural light in a green school lets in light without glare, while preventing overheating and excessive UVs.

Cost efficiency, energy reductions, improved scholastic performance and health benefits make natural lighting a logical choice.

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