Green Buildings Can Save the Planet and Our Wallets by Briana Lyon

I think that green architecture is a very important field in sustainability. The U.S. Green Business Council launched the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; also know as LEED, in 1998. (Basic Information, 2010) The LEED certification program has brought stability to a very young field. LEED has helped establish goals and guidelines for an industry that can get very complicated. Today, LEED is the most accepted method of judging how green a building is. (Goffman, 2006) There are many components to LEED certification. It is a thorough system that works to ensure that the plans, construction, and final product are as environmentally conscious as possible.

The one issue that many people have with building these sustainable buildings is a higher up front cost. These buildings are initially more expensive, but they have substantially lower costs in the long run. A state of California study found that LEED buildings cost an average of $4 more per square foot than typical construction but, over twenty years they would generate savings of $48.87 a square foot for standard- and silver-certified buildings, and $67.31 for gold- and platinum-certified buildings. (Stang and Hawthorne, 2005) Many federal, state, and local governments and school districts have adopted various types of LEED initiatives and incentives. Program incentives include tax credits, tax breaks, density bonuses, reduced fees, priority permitting, and low-interest loans. An example is in the state of Nevada where, construction materials for a qualifying LEED building are exempt from local taxes. A 2003 analysis of 60 LEED buildings found that the buildings were on average 25-30% more energy efficient, but it also attributed substantial benefits to the increased productivity from the better ventilation, temperature control, lighting control, and reduced indoor air pollution. (Kats, 2003) Paying extra cost up front for amenities like triple panned windows instead of double-panned windows will help to create a more energy efficient building in the long run. The extra pane you rae paying for allows for better temperature control inside the building. Less heat escapes during winter months and less cool air escapes during summer months.

On top of saving money on energy bills and having a lower impact on the environment, LEED buildings have also been shown to improve productivity of the people working in these buildings. An example of this is using natural lighting versus fluorescent lighting. Daylight has more than twice the amount of light output per unit of heat generated.  Using daylight to illuminate a room can save money. Not only are fluorescent lights expensive, but they also give off heat. This extra heat can lead to extra air conditioner use, which is very costly. Studies also show that employees are happier and more productive in a naturally lit environment. (Goffman, 2006) The Business Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois is the first LEED certified building on campus, and is LEED Platinum certified. This type of commitment to sustainable architecture will not only save the University a significant amount of money, it will also lower its environmental impact.

Check out this link to view the 2009 LEED Project Checklist

http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/documents/envronment_LEED_checklist_2.pdf

Here is a video that discusses the benefits of building a home following LEED certifications. It does a great job detailing the specific positive impacts LEED homes have on the environment and the benefits it has on a homeowner’s wallet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8SDyPg-M6U

Here is a video about how the Empire State building upgraded to become a LEED Certified Building. It brings up a great point of how to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0S5YBO1hec

Here is a link to a photo of the Business Instructional Facility here on campus.

http://www.topboxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/UIUC-Business-Instructional-Facility-by-Pelli-Clarke-Pelli-Architects-588x346.jpg

Here is a photo that illustrates the costs of LEED

http://www.bestpracticesconstructionlaw.com/uploads/image/costsofleed.jpg

"Basic Information | Green Building |US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. 22 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm>.

Goffman, Ethan. "Green Buildings: Conserving the Human Habitat." CSA. ProQuest, Oct. 2006. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/green/review3.php>.

Kats, G. H. "Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits." Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. 2003. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <www.masstech.org/rebate/green_buildings/GreenBuildingspaper.pdf>.

Stang, A., and C. Hawthorne. "The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture."Princeton Architectural Press (2005): 15. Yale School of Architecture. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://www.architecture.yale.edu/drupal/resources/architecture_gallery/green_house>.