Saturday, March 3, 2012

GREEN LEAD | Green Building News from CoStar - CoStar Group

A Bi-Weekly Update on Environmentally Sustainable Design, Construction and Maintenance News for Commercial Real Estate (Feb. 15-29)


GREEN LEAD is a column on environmental and sustainable design and construction, best practices for green building maintenance and operations, economic impact on developers and owners, new LEED and Energy Star building certifications, and trends in the Green Building movement.
Send in your Green News Leads to news@costar.com

USGBC Opens Third Public Comment Period for LEED Green Building Program
LEED 2012 Proposed Update to Focus on Simple-to-Use, Technically Advanced and Robust System

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the third public comment period for the proposed 2012 update to its LEED Green Building Program on March 1, 2012. The comment period closes on March 20th, and ushers in the start of the delivery process for LEED 2012.

The current draft of LEED 2012 has been refined, following two previous open comment sessions, to address technical stringency, measurement and performance tools, and an enhanced user experience. Technical changes have been shaped by market data, engagement of area experts, and advances in green building technology. Performance-based management features will ensure projects measure and manage energy and water usage, aid in the selection of site and building materials, and improve indoor environmental quality.

"LEED sits at the core of the green building movement, and is critical in realizing our collective mission," said Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED, USGBC. "LEED?s strength comes from its continuous evolution. This continuous improvement is the outcome of thousands of technical volunteers working to develop the program and the adaptability of the program to technological and market changes."

Doug Gatlin, vice president, LEED with the U.S. Green Building Council said in a blog post that "LEED engages and impacts millions (billions?) of people around the world. Its success is in part due to the fact that it is developed by the people who use it." He added that everyone has a stake in our built environment, and so has the opportunity to influence the direction LEED takes. Building owners to occupants, green building pros to college students just starting their sustainability journey, architects, managers, workers, parents, shoppers; everyone can, and should, be talking about LEED.

Members of the public are encouraged to comment on any substantive changes made since the second public comment period, which ran from Aug. 1 through Sept. 14, 2011. Information on the changes and instruction on how to participate can be found at usgbc.org/LEED2012. USGBC members in good standing may opt-in to vote on changes to LEED 2012 from April 2 - May 1, 2012 with ballot voting starting June 1st and running through June 30th.


Follow me on Twitter @JSumner2 for the Latest Green Building News and Updates.


BOMA Names Best Cities for 360 Program Designation
Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington DC Each Have More Than 25 BOMA 360 Buildings

Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Washington DC are leading the country in the number of buildings that have earned the coveted BOMA 360 Performance Program designation, each with more than 25 according to the Building Owners and Managers Association.

Since its inception in 2009, the program has grown to include more than 350 buildings nationwide. Read about the latest induction, BOMA 360 Performance Program Continues to Grow in 4th Qtr

The comprehensive program ensures that every aspect of building performance is assessed, with scores illustrating how buildings meet an extensive criteria of best practices in the following areas:

  • Building Operations and Management
  • Life Safety/ Security/ Risk Management
  • Trading and Education
  • Energy
  • Environment/ Sustainability
  • Tenant Relations/ Community Involvement
  • The four cities named by BOMA combine to make up more than one-third of the entire field of BOMA 360 Performance Program buildings. Houston leads the way with 41, followed by Dallas with 36, and Atlanta and Washington, DC tied with 26 buildings each.
    Read the Full Story.



    Queens Brownfield Goes Green, Ready for Development
    Future Site of Queens Public Library Receives Certificate of Completion from NYSDEC

    VeruTEK Technologies, Inc., a provider of green chemistry technologies for environmental remediation, has successfully cleaned up a New York City brownfield in Queens, having been issued a Certificate of Completion by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

    The site, along the East River in Hunters Point, will be the future home of a new branch of the Queens Public Library (pictured) and will also house a ranger station for the New York State Parks Department. The Queens Library Board of Trustees has approved the design, done by a collaboration of noted architect Steven Holl and Chris McVoy.

    VeruTEK implemented its Surfactant-enhanced In Situ (underground) Chemical Oxidation, or S-ISCO technology at this former industrial site to remediate contamination from coal repurposed from manufactured gas plants for use in production of roofing products. S-ISCO is a low-impact solution that destroys contamination in place, avoiding digging and hauling truckloads of contaminated soil, thereby preserving the stability of the surface and existing buildings on adjacent parcels.

    This is the first time a green chemistry solution has been utilized to remediate MGP-related contamination in New York City, and could set the standard in the use of innovative technologies in the State's Brownfield Cleanup Program.

    Read the Full Story.



    Regency Centers Completes Solar Installation
    Shops at Saugus Receive Zero-Emission Power Source

    Regency Centers has installed the company's first solar energy system at the Shops at Saugus, located at 300 - 366 Broadway in Saugus, MA. The photovoltaic array was built with 1,064 rooftop panels and covers 18,740 square feet. The system is expected to generate 250 KW of energy annually, supplying nearly 65 percent of required power for the center's anchor, Trader Joe's.

    The 97,904-square-foot neighborhood center was selected for Regency's initial solar panel installation based on federal and state incentives including Massachusetts' Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program.

    Regency's "Greengenuity" sustainability program utilizes best practices in green building design, construction, operations and maintenance to reduce long-term costs and the environmental impact of shopping centers on the community.

    Tim Lukes with Edison Energy served as a consultant and assisted Regency with the installation of the solar panel system.

    Read the Full Story.



    BOMA Greater Phoenix Names 2011 Kilowatt Krackdown Winners
    By Lindsey Hicks

    BOMA Phoenix Green Buildings Committee has named the 2011 winners for the Kilowatt Krackdown Awards program, honoring buildings in the greater Phoenix market that strive for energy efficiency.

    In its third year, the program strives to have properties share Energy Star Portfolio Manager with BOMA Phoenix to document BOMA 7-point challenge endorsement. Over 450 properties were submitted for consideration this year, up from 300 last year. Two new categories were announced this year, in addition to nine most-improved award categories and eleven efficiency award categories.

    This years winners include:

    • Highest Rated Office Bldg Agave Executive Center 3
      Cushman & Wakefield
    • Highest Rated Office Bldg, 100k-250k SF
      Phoenix Gateway Center 2
      Transwestern
    • Highest Rated Office Bldg, 250k-500k SF
      Phoenix Corporate Tower
      Crown West Realty
    • Highest Rated Office Bldg > 500k SF
      USAA Phoenix Campus
      USAA Real Estate Company

    For a complete list of winners, Read the Full Story.

    Farragut Building Earns LEED Gold
    By Richard Collins

    Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate earned the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) rating of LEED Gold and was verified by the Green Building Certification Institute for the office building it manages at 900 17th St. in Washington, DC.

    The 12-story, 146,981-square-foot building was constructed in 1963 and occupies a prominent corner of 17th and Eye Streets in the city's CBD. Major tenants include Energy Solutions and McLarty Associates.

    Sustainable features at the property include reduced energy consumption, reduced potable water consumption by upgrading the water fixtures and fittings in restrooms, and increased tenant participation in the recycling program.

    Read the Full Story.



    Did you miss the latest issue of GREEN LEAD? Read it online HERE.



    Source: http://www.costar.com/News/Article/GREEN-LEAD-Green-Building-News-from-CoStar/136306?ref=/News/Article/GREEN-LEAD-Green-Building-News-from-CoStar/136306&src=rss

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