Inside
Green Buildings are Red Hot!
Believe it or not, some large buildings are big, energy-guzzling monsters. In the United States, buildings account for over 65% of the consumption of generated electricity, and this translates into 36% of nationwide energy use and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. The problem is that most of this energy is just plain wasted.
Some of the benefits claimed by proponents of so-called “green architecture” include not only reduced energy consumption and less
environmental impact, but also improved employee health and productivity, reduced legal liability, and higher property values and
rental returns.
A survey of 99 green buildings in the U.S. showed that on average, they use 30% less energy than similar buildings of conventional design. So, the average 2% increase in construction costs is usually
recovered in lower operating costs with a payback period of less than 2 years.
LEED Standards: The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed a standard called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Points
are awarded in various categories, including energy use, water-efficiency, and indoor environment quality. A building that achieves a score of 39 points earns a "gold" rating and is estimated to have a 50% reduced impact over conventional buildings. A building can earn a "platinum" rating by gaining 52 points, and this is estimated to have a 70% reduced impact.The USGBC says that 1700 buildings are currently seeking LEED certification in the United States, and 137 buildings have been constructed and certified, so far. The United States General Service Administration (GSA) now requires that all new, non-military projects and renovations must meet the minimum LEED standards.
Last year, the City of Pittsburgh opened its 1.5 million square foot convention center, and this was the largest building to be awarded the LEED Gold certification. The City of Raleigh is currently planning a new convention center with the goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.
The technology for optimizing buildings is very similar to that long used by the automotive and airline industries. Predicting how much energy consumption, water usage, and materials are needed, can now be done with computers in 3-D . . . but the creativity of ideas and designs still comes from humans!
Have questions about green buildings?
Contact OMNI at 800-951-7625
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