Beyond Efficiency: Green Building Design and LEED

Making the Case for Green Buildings

April 19, 2008

RESOURCES

USGBC and LEED

US Green Building Council – www.usgbc.org

Neighborhood Design – www.greenplaybook.org

Strategic action in these sectors promotes economic development, builds healthier communities, strengthens energy independence, and supports climate protection.

LEED-Homes, Green Home Guide - www.greenhomeguide.org

Green remodeling handbook – www.ReGreenProgram.org

Videos and audio of Green Build presentations - www.GreenBuild365.org 

LEED On-line https://leedonline.usgbc.org/

LEED Cost Studies

(Links to all studies located at: www.usgbc.org  , click “Resources, Green Building Research, Research and Publications)

The Cost of Green Revisited, Davis Langdon; 2007
The Cost of Green Revisited, an extension of the 2004 Costing Green report, shows that many projects are achieving LEED within their budgets and in the same cost range as non-LEED projects.

Costing Green, Davis Langdon; 2004
Based on an in-depth study of the cost of sustainable buildings, this report concludes that there is no significant difference in the construction costs for LEED versus non-LEED buildings.

The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings
This October 2003 report to California's Sustainable Building Task Force includes LEED building analysis.

Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits
This report, prepared by Capital E, compares the financial costs and benefits of green schools and conventional schools.

GSA LEED Cost Study
The U.S. General Services Administration commissioned this report to estimate soft and hard costs for developing green federal facilities.

Health and Productivity Gains from Better Indoor Environments and their Relationship with Building Energy Efficiency, Fisk; 2000

VARIOUS

Making the Case for Green Buildings

Building Green Archives, various videos  http://www.greenworks.tv/green_building/archives.htm

Green Building marketing Studies (links to multiple studies)

http://www.builditgreen.org/taxonomy_menu/3/6/60/61

Schools

LEED-Schools www.BuildGreenSchools.org

Healthy Schools Campaign - www.healthyschoolscampiagn.org

Green Building Case Studies

            Virtually Green: Green Building Tour System - www.virtuallygreen.com

Greener Buildings – www.greenerbuildings.com

Operations

Green Line Paper - www.greenlinepaper.com

Green Seal - www.greenseal.org/resources/reports.cfm  “Choose Green Reports” on topics from paper, to cleaning supplies, to car tires.

EPA Procurement Guidelines - http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products.htm

Architecture 2030 - www.architecture2030.org

Fantastic images showing rising sea levels, effects of coal, locations of Katrina Hurricane evacuees, great resource for putting together presentations on climate change.

Energy Pulse Survey

90% do not know that buildings are greatest source of emissions

66% do not know that coal is our primary fuel for electricity production

http://www.energypulse.org/pressreleases.php  (Read press releases. Full report for purchase.)

Mayor’s Climate Protection Center

http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/bestpractices.htm  A best practices guide for cities can be downloaded here.

VIDEO CLIPS

Ray Anderson – Owner of Interface Carpet, on how he and Interface carpet faced and embraced the goal of sustainability (10 minutes)   Intense, compelling business argument  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRDUIbT4gw

Story of Stuff: From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. (20 minutes) http://www.storyofstuff.com/

High Performance Buildings: Perspectives and Practice

Now is the time to powerfully communicate the business case for green building. Rocky Mountain Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council have partnered to produce a succinct 29-minute film featuring over 12 LEED projects, as well as interviews with CEOs, school administrators, government officials, building managers, and many others who are realizing the real benefits of going green.

http://www.greenbuild365.org/Videos/video_rmi.html

Green Buildings: Making the Case

Owners of green buildings in Pennsylvania talk about why they’ve gone green. Includes Penn. Turnpike, schools, office buildings, convention center… 16 minutes. ftp://ftp.state.pa.us/pub/dep/WEB/GGGC/makingTheCase.wmv

ACTIVITIES

Calculate your carbon footprint

            Recalculate by changing one or two factors. Commit to changing those factors.

http://www.earthday.net/Footprint/index.asp#

http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

Bike or walk to work or for an errand and report back on your experience.

How did it feel? Where there obstacles? Would you do it again, why or why not?

Use the “Walkability Checklist” http://www.walkableamerica.org/checklist-walkability.pdf

can apply to bike trip too. Report your findings to your councilwoman, Martha Norbeck

Take the “Nature Challenge” 

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/What_is_it/

DESIGN

Energy Design Resources - www.energydesignresources.com

Range of energy design tools, descriptions and resources divided into: design practice, technologies, building types, software and training. Funded by California utility customers.

Whole Building Design Guide - www.wbdg.org

Whole building design techniques and technologies – extensive articles and links on wide range of topics.

Iowa Energy Center – www.energy.iastate.edu

            Solar and wind energy calculators for estimating renewable energy production in IA.

Southface - www.southface.org

            Fact sheets on variety of green building topics

Daylighting Collaborative - www.daylighting.org

            Tools and design recommendations for daylighting

Sun Angle Calculator - www.susdesign.com/sunangle/

“Rain Gardens: A How-To Manual for Homeowners”

http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/home.rgmanual.pdf

Walkability: best to worst: http://deewise.com/WiseForTownCouncil2005_files/TownCoun%20Traffic%20Calming%20levels%20in%20walkability.jpg

MATERIALS

Environmental Building News - www.buildinggreen.com

Database of case studies, materials, researched articles

Green Building Source Book - www.greenbuilder.com

            Green builder sourcebook, bookstore, real estate, green professionals directory

Healthy Building Network - www.healthybuilding.net

            Articles on indoor air quality and materials which affect IAQ.

Green Guard – www.greenguard.org

            Certification program for low emitting interior products.

Green Seal - www.greenseal.org/resources/reports.cfm

 “Choose Green Reports” on paints and finishes, lists chemicals to watch out for

Energystar - www.energystar.gov

            US Government standards for, and listings of, energy efficient homes and products.

 Green Building Supply – www.greenbuildingsupply.com

            Extensive information about available green building materials.

LEED AP

Green Building Certification Institute - www.gbci.org

            Register for exam, exam guidelines

Study Materials

            Green Exam Prep - www.greenexamprep.com

            Professional Publications, Inc. http://ppi2pass.com/ppi/PPIShop_ct_LEED

BOOKS

“The Green Book: the everyday guide to saving the planet, one simple step at a time.” Elizabeth Rogers

and Thomas M. Kostigen.

“Squeaky Green: the method guide to detoxing your home.” Erik Ryan and Adam Lowry

“Green from the Ground Up: Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction.” David Johnson & Scott Gibson.

“Rain Gardens: Manageming water sustainably in the garden and designed landscape” Nigel Dunnett and Andy Clayden

Publishers of Green Books

Ecotone Publishing - www.ecotonedesign.com

New Society Publishers - www.newsociety.com

Island Press - www.islandpress.org