Tag Archives: LEED/green design

Best Practices for Lighting a LEED Construction Project (guest post)

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Today, a guest post from the folks at Lamps.com, a retailer of lamps, LED lighting and LED outdoor lighting solutions.  They provide an interesting pro/con analysis of the three main types of light sources. 

Going “green” is one of the largest priorities among businesses today; it seems everyone is doing it. Obviously, while building an energy-efficient structure, one of your main goals should be to conserve resources, but it can also be important to consider how you are going to light the project while still sticking to the green guidelines. It can be costly and stressful to think about lighting a whole construction site at night using solar paneled lights or other energy-efficient means, but with the following few tips you can conserve energy and have a safe, well-lit workspace while still keeping to your budget:

 LED Light bulbs: All of the light bulbs that fit in typical sockets can generally be replaced with substitute light sources. LED lights are a great way to shed light on your construction project while still maintaining energy-efficient standards. LED lights come in both flood and track varieties, and are a benefit in the workplace because they do not throw off heat. That means that, no matter how late you’re burning the midnight oil, you are going to be safe from burns and fires. LEDs last close to eight times longer than CFL light bulbs and can be used in almost all light fixtures. LED bulbs also require significantly less wattage in comparison to the other types of bulbs. This makes them the most efficient and longest lasting type to use in a construction setting.

 types of lights

CFL Light bulbs: CFLs are another option for people looking to save energy but still work by light. Although they are not as energy efficient as LEDs they still use fifty to eighty percent less energy than regular incandescent bulbs. Replacing just one incandescent bulb with a CFL will cut about a half ton of C02 out of the atmosphere in just 5 years; that’s a lot of air and water pollution you could be saving. These, like the LEDs can be used in almost all areas where lighting is required.

Solar Paneled Lights: With the rise of solar powered technology, solar paneled lights can be cheap to find if you look in the right place. Purchasing online is a viable option for most, but make sure you read reviews of the product before buying. Solar paneled lights do have the tendency to be dimmer than other varieties, and also can die out more quickly because of their power source being inaccessible.

Along with getting energy-efficient bulbs there are options such as replacing fixtures in your pre-existing equipment, or using energy efficient cording. However, buying new bulbs is the quickest, easiest way to quickly make sure your construction company is working with “green” equipment and conserving as much as it can.

Editor’s Note:  Be sure to check out this chart showing complete details of the three types of lights, including energy, environmental impact, and light output. 

Your turn:  Have you worked on a LEED or other “green” project which used alternative light sourcing?  Share in the comments section, below.

LEED for Schools Webinar (free AIA learning unit)–(Today’s Tip)

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Interested in LEED as it is applied to schools?

Need to get some AIA learning units?

Then you might want to check out this upcoming, free webinar, “LEED for Schools: Overcoming the Challenges.”

When:  Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 at 2pm EDT

Register for the Webinar Here.

seminar banner

 

 

 

 From the website:  This intermediate seminar will look at the Center of Lifelong Learning in Sayerville, New Jersey, a Platinum level project certified under the LEED for Schools rating system as a case study. The webinar will look at the perspectives of the different team members, including the architect, the construction manager, the owner, and the commissioning agent. Each of these panelists will provide examples of the challenges the project incurred and how the team overcame those hurdles for the project to earn Platinum level certification. The intent of the webinar is meant to provide the attendees with actual strategies specific to the LEED for Schools rating system focusing on the importance of integration and communication.

Upon completion of the seminar, a participant will be able to:

  • Identify proactive measures when pursuing a LEED project during design and construction under the LEED for Schools rating system
  • Assess the challenges of pursuing certain LEED strategies, as related to local building codes
  • Identify the benefits of communicating, education, and training of the entire project team
  • Compare the advantages of the commissioning process

Editor’s Note:  there are certain requirements to getting the LU credit, involving obtaining a passing score on a 10 question quiz following the webinar.  (See site for particulars).

Green Construction Creates More Than a Sustainable Future – It Creates Jobs! (guest post)

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usf imageToday, a guest post on green design by the folks at University Alliance, in partnership with the University of San Francisco’s higher education program. They offer an online master certificate in supply chain management, and sustainable supply chain management.

The unemployment rate in the United States is not going to magically decrease. So what can the government and investors do to help create jobs for Americans? Building more energy efficient infrastructures comes with many benefits, including an influx of jobs, energy cost savings, and a more sustainable future. Most people believe in sustaining the environment, but many feel concerned that green building construction is too expensive. Let’s look at some specific facts to analyze green solutions in a realistic way: where has “going green” worked, why has it worked, how does it actually create jobs and who is going green in American right now?

While Americans continue to wrangle over the financial efficacy of green solutions, green power has taken off in Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong.  LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system for the design of green buildings. Taipei 101, the second largest building in the world which is located in Taiwan gained the LEED designation. South Korea plans to grant extensive economic stimulus to green ventures while China will construct 35 million meters of green buildings in Beijing. In answer to both the growing global pressure and the American green movement, President Obama has created a Better Buildings Initiative committed to the idea that green buildings preserve energy and create jobs.

Countries that succeed in creating green buildings have chosen to make the investment. While investing in efficient energy use promotes both job growth and environmental stability, investment options need to be clearer. Solar heating, harvesting of rainwater and natural lighting are just a few practical ideas which can create great savings for each of us.

Change is naturally difficult in a poor economy. Unemployment has doggedly stuck to the 9 percent level. That forces the question: will green buildings truly create jobs or not? Job growth partly depends on the sectors of the economy that create jobs at a medium to high percentage rate.  For instance, the energy sector and the manufacturing sector create jobs at a much lower rate than do the construction sector and the government sector. This means that when we invest in the construction of green buildings or in green renovation, we are putting our resources into a sector which creates a high level of jobs on average. Green building projects do promote reliable job growth.

Many green building initiatives are on the rise in America.  Siemens has announced four hundred positions in green technology across thirty-nine states. In Baltimore, one of the largest roof-mounted solar installations will soon be built.  Projects like these create work, foster innovative thinking and control energy costs for both companies and the government. But above all, they give other companies a viable path to follow. Additionally, the president’s Better Building Initiative will give a tax credit of as much as $1.80 per square foot for buildings that fully utilize green solutions.

So much depends on how we perceive green energy. Is this a standard we want for all buildings or is it a standard that only the wealthiest can achieve? Though U.S. companies are leading the way in green technology including smart lighting, energy management, and efficient heating, we have yet to realize our complete potential in the construction of green buildings. At this time, understanding the jobs that can truly be created through green power could create both amazing and sustained change.

What do you think? Do you believe that green buildings and green renovation can help kick start the U.S. economy?  Share your thoughts in the comments section, below.

Will Green Performance Bonds Be a Surety Requirement in 2012? (law note; guest post)

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Today’s Law Note is by Guest Blogger Alex Levin for JW Surety, the largest surety bond agency in the country.  When he’s not explaining the functionalities of surety bonds, he covers a variety of topics from construction-related news to eco-friendly building tips.

Green building design and construction is an attempt to conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and protect the environment through reduction of pollutants. Green buildings are constructed with renewable, managed materials and are typically designed to take full advantage of natural light and passive heating and cooling environments.

In 2006, the District of Columbia enacted a local ordinance specifically designed to promote green buildings. The Green Building Act of 2006 becomes effective in 2012 and requires all new construction projects within the District to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification standards.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification promotes the design, construction and operation of green buildings. There are four levels of certification, from LEED Certified to Silver LEED certification to Gold LEED certification and, at the highest level, Platinum LEED certification.

The District of Columbia was the first city in the US to require that privately constructed buildings meet LEED standards and already contains 24 buildings that are certified as Silver LEED or higher. An additional 150 projects are LEED registered.

The Green Building Act of 2006 did several desirable things for the District of Columbia. It established high-performance building standards for all new construction in the District. It created a green building incentives program to rewarded green construction projects with an expedited documents review process. It requires that properties with green building standards be given priority when the District leases buildings. Unfortunately, the Act also had an unintended consequence. As it is currently written, no structures can be constructed in compliance with the Act.

In routine construction contracts, performance bonds limit the risk that owners incur by using a particular contractor. The contractor buys the performance bond from a surety company, and the bond is issued to the project owner. If the contractor fails to perform, the owner can draw on the bond to hire another contractor to complete the project according to the design specifications. When the contractor does complete the project according to the design specifications, the bond is released and money is returned to the contractor. Performance verification is a simple matter of construction observation and comparison with the project specifications.

With a Green Performance Bond, however, there are multiple problems. Performance certification must come from a third party, such as the US Green Building Council, who would not be a participant in the surety bond. A delay on the part of the government agency could result in missed construction deadlines. To add to this, green standards are constantly changing. A project designed to meet Silver LEED certification requirements at the time construction starts may fall short of the certification requirements that are actually in effect by the time construction is completed.

The greatest hurdle to the Act is that Green Performance Bonds simply do not exist today. Surety companies will not issue such bonds when there are no clear standards for performance verification. [Editor’s Note: For more on the “unicorn” that is the green surety bond, check out Chris Cheatham’s discussion on the illusory bond way back in 2009].

The legal ramifications of this dilemma remain unclear. Will contractors who have been awarded construction contracts scheduled for 2012 be subject to liquidated damages if they are unable to bond and fail to start construction? If surety companies do issue Green Performance Bonds, will the bond be forfeit if LEED certification standards change during construction and the project is not Silver LEED certified? Will delays in certification be held against the contractor when projects are otherwise completed? There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

The language of the Act is being re-examined, and a public hearing is scheduled for mid December. There is no alternative plan in place should the language of the Act remain unchanged and surety companies decline to issue these specialized performance bonds.

Thoughts, comments, or questions?  Post in the comment section, below.

Photo: (c) coolshots blog via Creative Commons license.

Despite a Weakening Housing Market, Green Building Trends Soar (Tue Tip guest post)

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Today’s Tip is a guest post by Alex Levin,  a marketing specialist who writes on a variety of topics related to the construction industry such as surety bonding requirements to  eco-friendly building trends.

 

There are few bright spots in the housing market.  According to recent reports, home prices have fallen 30 percent since 2007.  That decline is more than what happened during the Depression.

Despite these anemic numbers, green construction and energy efficiency models are being sought by buyers and homeowners. This is due to an increasing recognition that earth friendly buildings are good for the wallet. Green construction starts went up 50 percent, from $42 billion in 2008 to $71 billion in 2010. It’s estimated ecological friendly construction represented 25 percent of last year’s new building starts. The commercial sector has seen the most activity, where a third of all new work meets green standards.

green building

A “green” building?

As eco-friendly buildings are growing in popularity, many new developments have entered into the construction industry. Here is a look at the latest trends for green construction.

  1. Outcome based energy codes. Presently there is no incentive for buildings to retrofit to conserve energy. The only time there are concerns is when permits are needed; however, once heating and cooling systems are installed there’s no need to consider if the systems are effective. That may all change thanks to outcome-based energy codes. With these codes, owners and builders could agree to a pre-arranged energy target. This would be checked annually, and should measurements be off, retrofits would be required in order to achieve the agreed upon energy consumption. For homeowners, this means peace of mind and better control of finances as they’ll now know how much their building is expected to spend in energy use.
  2. Sharing energy.  For those who love friendly competition, social media is now branching out to entice users to battle it out for the title of most energy efficient. The site Earth Aid allows users to track their energy use ,and rewards are given out for top conservationists. These points can be used with local vendors to purchase a variety of eco-friendly home goods. Not only can users cash in their winnings, they’ll also earn bragging rights for saving the most electricity, which ultimately also saves them money on their monthly bills. [ditor’s note: Earth Aid site no longer appears available as of 7/13/2016].
  3. Community sharing. Similar to energy sharing, community sharing allows neighborhoods to band together to receive competitive pricing on installation costs and solar panels. Currently both Portland, Ore. and Philadelphia have these types of plans. Retrofit Philly pits neighborhoods against each other to have home and building owners involved in heating and cooling upgrades. Residents who participated in Solarize Portland received cheaper discounts in solorizing the property. Savings were increased even more when popularity grew and more people joined the effort.
  4. Smart appliances. With the use of smart meters, homeowners no longer have to wait until the end of the month to know how much they’ve spent in energy. These appliances provide detailed feedback on energy use as it happens. This allows for more control over spending and conservation during peak hours, when energy is most expensive. The new meters can also be used to find out how much juice each appliance consumes in real time. This can also help to provide a detailed report on how much energy is consumed when appliances aren’t in use, as many appliances, when simply plugged in and set to “off,” still bleed energy, leaving homeowners footing the bill for something they aren’t even using.
  5. Green is for everyone. Although green construction is increasing, there is a perception it’s a rich man’s game. Fighting this perception are affordable housing groups like Habitat for Humanity and local land trusts. These organizations are building, and selling, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Energy Star homes.  These sales are occuring nationwide, and include homes priced as low as $100,000.  Energy upgrades can be paid for with new programs, including low-cost audits and utility bill-based financing (i.e., Clean Energy Works Oregon and Solar City).
  6. Residential greywater use. The reuse of gray water (i.e., all waste water minus what’s used in the toilet) is turning into a common practice.  Gray water provides numerous benefits such as reducing the amount of fresh water used, decreasing strain on septic systems, replenishing groundwater, and maintaining soil fertility.

What are your thoughts about green building trends?  Do your clients want “green” incorporated into their projects?  Share your experiences in the green market in the comments section, below.  And, be sure to sign up for email delivery of blog posts directly to your in-box so you never miss a post here at Construction Law North Carolina.

Photo (c) C. Frank Starmer via Creative Commons license.