Introduction to Green Buildings & LEED: Introduction to Green Buildings & LEED
Defining Sustainability: Defining Sustainability United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development
“Development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Defining Green Buildings: Defining Green Buildings Design and construction practices that significantly reduce, or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and its occupants with regard to site planning; safeguarding water use and water use efficiency; promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy; conserving materials and resources; and promoting indoor environmental quality.” (US Green Building Council)
Construction Impacts: Construction Impacts 76 million residential buildings in US
5 million commercial buildings in US
consume 40 % or raw materials
32% total energy produced
17% fresh water
25% global wood harvest
5 billion gals water/day just for toilets
generates
25-40% of municipal solid waste from C&D
50% of US CFC production
30% of US CO2 production
Building Operations Impacts: Building Operations Impacts 49% of Sulfur Dioxide emissions
25% nitrous oxide emissions
10% of all particulate matter
1/3 of all energy consumption in US
2/3 of all electricity consumption in US
disturbs natural habitats
contaminates air, soil, and water
depletes non-renewable resources
½ of greenhouse gases
35% of carbon dioxide emissions
community issues
occupant issues
sources: “The Architecture of Sustainability, 2002”, World Watch Institute, USGBC
Key Issues and Benefits: Key Issues and Benefits Institution
Building Commissioning
Air Quality
Occupants productivity and well being
Energy Conservation
Water Conservation
Storm Water Management
Waste Management
Local & State Standards & Programs
Green ethics / commitment
Research and Grant opportunities
Being a leader (as it should)
Responsibility to show importance
Competitive advantage (ie – recruiting)
Institutional community demand
Great public relations
Overall Financial Benefits: Overall Financial Benefits Energy
Water
Wastewater
Reduced Waste
Improved Indoor Environmental Quality
Greater Employee Comfort/Productivity
Reduced Employee Health Costs
Lower Operation and Maintenance Costs
Competitive First Costs
Through integrated design & synergies
Increased Value & ROI
Marketing Advantage
Reduced Liability
Improve Risk Management
Insurance costs
Overall Financial Benefits: Overall Financial Benefits Financial Benefits of a Green Building equate to $50-$70 SF over lifetime
Over 10X return on any premium cost associated with building it over lifetime
Source: USGBC
Air Quality: Air Quality Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – effect the contents of the inside air has on a structure and its occupants
People spend 90% of their time indoors
Indoor air has 10-100X higher pollutants than outdoor air
USEPA “Indoor Air Quality” Jan, 6 2003
Energy Conservation : Energy Conservation
US uses 25% of world energy but only has 5% of population & 95% of our energy is from fossil fuels (US Energy Information Administration)
Higher Education - $2 Billion/year on energy
(American School & University)
Most can reduce by up to 30% - savings can be used on:
New faculty
Upgrades/renovations for more savings
New programs
Water Conservation: Water Conservation USA uses 340 billion gallons of fresh water per day
Nearly 65% is discharged into waterways
Energy Policy Act of 1992
Facilities can easily reduce use by 20-30% with little cost and effort
Water & Sewer Bills
Connection Fees & Tax Base
Occupants Well Being and Productivity: Occupants Well Being and Productivity Relationship exists between worker comfort/productivity and building design/operation
Hidden sick days – higher absenteeism, respiratory ailments, allergies, asthma = lower productivity, higher insurance and medical costs
A 1% increase in productivity (about 5 minutes per day) equals $600-700 per employee per year - a ^1.5% equals about $1,000/yr
(Katz 2003 study)
Mythology About First Costs : Mythology About First Costs Common Perception when we started was +20-30%
Past & Current Trend
Recent Studies
Average Premium <2% or $3-$5 SF
Most of cost associated with increased architectural and engineering design, time, modeling and integration time
Earlier you integrate the lower the cost
Mythology About First Costs: Mythology About First Costs
Source: USGBC, Capital E Analysis
Mythology About First Costs: Mythology About First Costs Another recent study has shown the following average increase in project construction costs, on a percentage basis for LEED certification.
Certified 0 – 2.5%
Silver 0 – 3.3%
Gold 0.3 – 5.0%
Platinum 4.5 – 8.5%
Start Early – Save Costs
Source: Sasaki Associates 2004
Mythology About First Costs: Mythology About First Costs Building green can be done for no additional cost
Initial premium costs are entirely up to you and project specific
LEED buildings average only a 2-3% increase in costs, but can be done for the same budget as traditional buildings with planning
Savings from green building’s more than return any premium you may choose to put into it
Design Fees will be higher but construction costs may be reduced
Set Budget first then work fees within framework
General Mythologies: General Mythologies Appearance of Green Buildings
You design it to look how you want. It can easily match traditional campus design or not.
Carpet, furniture and windows do not have to look different. They can look like traditional ones only they perform better and are healthier.
Does not need to be high tech to be green.
Time
Green Buildings take the same amount of time to construct as regular buildings. More time may be required in the Design phase though.
Costs
Green Buildings do not have to cost more. With planning they can be built at the same price or less.
Design fees may be higher in the beginning of the project but the extra design work will lower the actual construction costs. In the end the building costs the same and fits in the traditional budget.
Normal: 2 + 2 = 4
Green: 3 + 1 = 4
Long term maintenance and operations costs can be reduced by 20 – 50% with good planning.
Green Buildings at USC: Green Buildings at USC West Quad Residence Hall & Learning Center
School of Public Health
Library Rare Books Collection & Modern Political Wings
Law School
New Honors College
Gamma Phi Beta Sorority
New Student Health Center
Baseball Stadium
Horizon Buildings
Biomedical Buildings
Arnold II
Band/Dance Building
Innovista
West Quad: West Quad
West Quad : West Quad $30.9M project cost - $25M const. cost
177,000 SF - $141.24/sf
SAME COST & Time
502 bed spaces – 4 buildings
Residential, office, academic & retail spaces
Goal of LEED Silver – Achieved
Reduced Construction & Change Order Costs
45%-55% More Energy Efficient = over $50,000 savings annually
20% more Water Efficient = $ 3900+ savings annually
Residents comment on improved health and productivity
West Quad at USC: West Quad at USC Selected “Green” Project Particulars
Designed to be 40% more energy efficient and to use 20% less water
“Green” roof on Learning Center
Fuel Cell for supplemental electricity & hot water
Solar pre-heating for domestic hot water
Low VOC paints and carpets & 100% Fresh Air
Daylighting in all buildings
Building orientation
Light shelves for shading and natural lighting on southern exposures
Light wells on Learning Center
“Green” board in case good furnishings
Total storm water management integration
US Green Building Council (USGBC): US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy
& Environmental Design
(LEED)
Slide24: USGBC’s MISSION:
to promote the design and construction of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.
The organization’s activities…
Integrate building industry sectors
Lead market transformation
Educate owners and practitioners
Slide25: USGBC is...
A national nonprofit organization
A diverse membership of organizations
Consensus-driven
Committee-based product development
Developer and administrator of the LEED® Green Building Rating System
What is “Green” Design?: What is “Green” Design? Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:
Sustainable site planning
Safeguarding water and water efficiency
Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Conservation of materials and resources
Indoor environmental quality
Slide27: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design® A leading-edge system for designing, constructing, operating and certifying the world’s greenest buildings.
Slide28: Why Was LEED® Created? Use as a design guideline
Recognize leaders
Stimulate green competition
Establish market value with recognizable national “brand”
Raise consumer awareness
Transform the marketplace!
Slide29: Facilitate positive results for the environment, occupant health and financial return
Define “green” by providing a standard for measurement
Prevent “greenwashing” (false or exaggerated claims)
Promote whole-building, integrated design processes Why Was LEED® Created?
LEED-NC® Market Transformation : Registered Projects by State - Top 10 As of 05.02.05 All statistics exclude pilot projects LEED-NC® Market Transformation
LEED-NC® Market Transformation: LEED-NC® Market Transformation Registered Projects by State - Top 10
Where does the Southeast stand?
Georgia – 62
South Carolina - 56
North Carolina – 42
LEED-NC® Point Distribution: LEED-NC® Point Distribution Five LEED credit categories
Resources: Resources www.usgbc.org – US Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org/Resources/links.asp - Extensive Resource List
www.greenerbuildings.com
The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design
WWW.Oikos.com - bookstore
www.iso.org – ISO 14001 EMS
www.epa.gov/ems/index.htm - EPA’s EMS site
www.doe.gov – US DOE www.epa.gov – US EPA
www.housing.sc.edu/westquadhandbook.asp - West Quad Handbook
www.sc.edu/sustainableu - Sustainable Universities Initiative (SUI)
www.buildinggreen.com – Environmental Building News
www.edcmag.com – Environmental Design & Construction
www.gbapgh.org – Green Building Alliance
www.southface.org/web/earthcraft_house/ech_main/ech_index.htm - Earth Craft Homes
www.greenglobes.com – Green Globes
Contact Info : Contact Info Michael Koman Dr. Gene Luna
Environmental Programs Manager Associate Vice President
1215 Blossom Street for Student Affairs
Columbia, SC 29208 1215 Blossom St
Columbia, SC 29208
koman@sc.edu gene.luna@sc.edu
803-777-1986