GO GREEN

http://www.bestgreenblogs.com

This GreenSource article titled above was written by Tristan Roberts and here are my thoughts -

The following quote (from article) makes me laugh:

“Even Britain has received blistering criticism for its slow adoption, which caused projected carbon savings for 2010 to drop by 80%.”!

Isn’t it ironic how British people sound sophisticated yet they are not taking responsibility to protect our environment?  What do all my British friends have to say about this?  Go Green…

The 100 North Tampa LEED team is days away from submitting our LEED (EBOM) application to the USGBC.  We are projected to save 10% ($140k) – 20% ($280k) in energy costs over the next 12 months.  This will also save on GreenHouse Gas emissions.  The following chart is a snap shot from Energy Star

12 Months Ending	Current Total Site Energy Use (kBtu)	Current Direct GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Current Indirect GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Current Total GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Baseline Total GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Change from Baseline: GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)
Select Date May 2009 April 2009     (Current) March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006     (Baseline) February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003	44,687,366.92	0.00	7,870.97	7,870.97	8,109.82	-238.85
Select Date May 2009 April 2009     (Current) March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006     (Baseline) February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003	44,969,824.24	0.00	7,920.72	7,920.72	8,109.82	-189.10
Change	282,457.32	0.00	49.75	49.75	0.00	N/A

The Editors of GreenSource discuss the World Business Council’s collaborative viewpoints on Sustainable Development.  the 2050 goal is to reduce building energy use by 77%!

Is that going to happen? – NOT Likely!

Why?  Drastic measures (i.e. – cap and trade, etc.) are essential to meet the goal.

Go Green and discuss your thoughts about this serious issue?

Please click the Go Green Facts link at the top of the website to learn about many interesting Go Green Facts that will help you save money and the earth.

Go Green!

Materials & Resources

MR pre-requisite 1:  Sustainable Purchasing Policy – 100 North Tampa created and implemented a sustainable purchasing policy encouraging tenants to purchase sustainable, environmentally-friendly products. Go Green

MR pre-requisite 2:  Solid Waste Management Policy – 100 North Tampa created and implemented a recycling program for ongoing consumables + durable goods, including:  paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminum, toner cartridges, light bulbs, batteries, monitors, printers, tv’s, fax machines, furniture and metals!

During the performance period (3/1/09 – 5/31/09), the total amount of ongoing consumable waste generate was 311,165 pounds, 228,905 pounds (74%) was recycled:

• 86,074 pounds of paper
• 126,289 pounds of shredded paper
• 11,856 pounds of Cardboard
• 340 pounds of Aluminum
• 2,426 pounds of Glass
• 145 pounds of Plastic
• 1,775 pounds of toner cartridge

Go Green

MR Credit 3:  Sustainable Purchasing – Facility Alterations + Additions – 100 North Tampa purchases at least 50% sustainable materials for facility alterations and additions.  Management agrees with contractors to adhere and provide required documentation.

MR Credits 4.1-4.2:  Sustainable Purchasing – Reduced Mercury in Lamps - 100 North Tampa put a light bulb purchasing plan in place to phase out light bulbs with high mercury content.  CLW Real Estate Services Group (Property Management Co.) goal is to purchase longer lasting, less wattage, lower mercury containing light bulbs to reduce the negative affect on the environment. Go Green.

MR Credit 6: Solid Waste Management – Waste Stream Audit – 100 North Tampa audited ongoing consumable trash to understand the types of “waste” being thrown away.  CLW estimates 30% of “waste” is recyclable material.  CLW then walked individual workstations and wrote notes to those who were not recycling improperly.

MR Credit 7.1-7.2:  Solid Waste Management – Ongoing Consumables – 100 North Tampa’s goal is to recycle at least 50% of ongoing consumables.  Currently 100 North Tampa recycles about 74% of their ongoing consumables.

MR Credit 8:  Solid Waste Management – Durable Goods – 100 North Tampa recycles, reuses or donates every durable good our tenants no longer want/need.  This includes:  printers, monitors, TV’s, VCR’s, fax machines, tables, chairs, desks, etc.

MR Credit 9:  Solid Waste Management – Facility Alterations + Additions – 100 North Tampa’s goal is to recycle at least 70% of facility alterations and additions (build-out work).  This is agreed upon in the contract with whomever is conducting the work.

Go Green

Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

Sustainable Services

813.349.8550

With Barack Obama at the helm as the President of the United States, the American people are witnessing a change from where our energy comes from.  In a recent article Obama wants 25% of energy use coming from alternative energy by 2030.

The Washington Post article Obama Touts Energy Progress President Obama discussed his clean/renewable energy plan near Las Vegas at a military branch.  Our Nation’s goal is to reduce foreign oil use and greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions.

The article by William Branigin states that Nellis Air Force Base has a “collection of more than 72,000 (solar) panels built on 140 acres..$100 million to build, generating about a quarter of the electricity used on base (equivalent to $1 million per year).  

Horrible ROI? Yes

It will reduce “carbon pollution by 24,000 tons a year, the equivalent of removing 4,000 cars from the U.S. highways.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052702458.html

There are many renewable energy options and the best idea right now is to wait until the technology is better perfected.

 <a href=”http://technorati.com/claim/xfvcfre9ev” rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a>

xfvcfre9ev

100 North Tampa is hosting the Greater Florida LEGO Group with their replication of Downtown Tampa until Friday, May 29th, 2009.  Visitors are welcome and encouraged to bring kids.

Energy and Atmosphere (EA)

EA pre-requisite 1:  Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices – Planning, Documenting, and Opportunity Assessment - Consists of the ASHRAE Energy Level I Audit, Running Energy Efficient- Infancy, Building Operating Plan (BOP), Systems Narrative, and other valuable information which begins your trek towards sustainable practices and financial savings through LEED Certification.  Go Green!

EA pre-requisite 2:  Minimum Energy Performance – Energy Star rating or comparable method of analysis For further information- www.energystar.gov

EA pre-requisite 3:  Refrigerant Management – Ozone Protection – Measure Air Handling Units (AHUs) and adjust according to ASHRAE Standards.

EA Credit 1:  Optimize Energy Performance – Energy Star Rating or comparable analysis rating.  energystar.gov

EA Credit 2.1:  Existing Building Commissioning – Investigation & Analysis - ASHRAE Energy Level II Audit, Money Saving Ideas for Energy Efficiency- Adolescents.  Idea generating thoughts for energy efficiency are developed to save money, illustrated with cost/benefit analysis.

EA Credit 2.2:  Existing Building Commissioning – Implementation – Begin no cost/low cost building improvement, energy efficient, options.  The genesis of financial benefit realization. 100 North Tampa is estimated to save  3.3 – 8.7% reducing energy consumption equating to $50,000-$130,000 per year! Go Green, LEED Certify your building.

EA Credit 2.3:  Existing Building Commissioning – Ongoing Commissioning – Commissioning plan, commissioning cycle, commissioning task/documentation.  Test and document all building exhaust systems for proper functioning to optimum levels.

EA Credit 5:  Refrigerant Management – Understand, track and record CFC, HCFC type refrigerants and consider replacement with non-CFC/HCFC based refrigerants.

EA Credit 6:  Emission Reduction Reporting – use third party (Energy Star) to track and verify your greenhouse gas emissions and written summary of GHG savings.

I convert existing buildings to become LEED (EBOM) Certified, Save Money and Go Green!

-Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

More case studies here – http://www.GoGreenCommercially.com/?s=leed+case+study&x=0&y=0

The following LEED (EBOM) Case Study will briefly discuss the LEED pre-requisites and credits 100 North Tampa is attempting to submit to the USGBC.  The LEED case study will be broken down into the 6 LEED categories.  Currently we are at the end of our performance period tying up loose ends before application submission.  The LEED (EBOM) process has been a huge success and saving the building money.

Sustainable Sites (SS)

SS Credit 2:  Bldg. Exterior & Hardscape Management Plan - All exterior products used at 100 North Tampa are considered environmentally friendly.  This benefits the environment and reduces harmful chemicals brought on site.

SS Credit 3:  Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control & Landscape Management – No chemicals are used in pest control and landscaping products.  All products are environmentally friendly benefiting the outdoor environment and reduces harmful chemicals brought on site.

SS Credit 7:  Heat Island Reduction – Non-Roof -100 North Tampa has 14 floors of parking garage space within the buildings site totaling 1.2 spaces per 1,000 square feet.

Water Efficiency (WE)

WE pre-requisite 1:  Minimum Indoor Plumbing Fixture & Fitting Efficiency – 100 North Tampa retrofit toilets, faucets and shower heads with high-efficiency, low-flow products creating an estimated water savings of 1.5Million Gallons per Year saving $12,000/year in water costs!

WE Credit 1.1:  Whole Building Metering – 100 North Tampa has 3 meters which total the entire water usage allowing Management to track water usage patterns. Go Green!

WE Credit 1.2:  Water Performance Measurement – 100 North Tampa has 5 submeters to hone in on how much water each end use is using allowing to develop strategies on ways to reduce the water usage.  1 of our meters tracks the amount of condensate water we capture in our cooling tower that is re-used back into the cooling tower saving an estimate 1.6 Million Gallons/Year!

WE Credits 2.1-2.3:  Indoor Plumbing Fixture & Fitting Efficiency- 10-30% Reduction – 100 North Tampa saves 38% of water compared to the LEED (EBOM) Baseline!  The plumbing fixture & fitting retrofit is how we did this. Go Green.

WE Credits 3.1-3.3:  Water Efficient Landscape – 50-100% Reduction – 100 North Tampa shut down our irrigation system because our landscape consists of native and adaptive plants which are well establish.

WE Credit 4.1:  Cooling Tower Water Management - 100 North Tampa collects condensate water (saving estimate of 1.6 Million Gallons/Year), uses water softener (saving an estimated 1.3 Million Gallons/year) and a TRASAR 3D system to monitor the water’s conductivity for optimal conditions.

Go Green!  Let me help you LEED Certify your building.  Bryan Lauer, LEED AP.  813.349.8550

Other categories to Come…

Below will outline sustainable facts on 100 North Tampa.  100 North Tampa is a LEED (EBOM) Registered Building in Tampa, FL.  100 North Tampa is a42-story,  550,000sf, Class “A” building.  The follow facts are generated from the LEED (EBOM) Certification process.  The LEED (EBOM) Certification process has tremendously helped 100 North Tampa be more sustainable.  Go Green!

Any questions ask Bryan Lauer – bblauer@clwrg.com 813-349-8550. Go Green!

100 North Tampa Facts

Paper

100 North Tampa recycles an average 8.06 tons (70,787 pounds) of paper per month.

Recycling 1 ton of paper saves:

o 17 mature trees

o 7,000 gallons of water

o 3 cubic yards of landfill space

o 2 barrels of oil

o 4,100kw hours of electricity (enough to power a home for 5 months)

· 100 North Tampa recycles an estimated 8.65 tons of ongoing consumables every week.

· 100 North Tampa sends 3.9 Tons of “waste” to the incinerator per month

Water

· 100 North Tampa will save an estimated 3.9 million gallons of water/year with the following strategies:

o Saving 1.5 million gallons of water/year with the recent retrofit of our plumbing fixtures and fittings to high-efficiency, low-flow fixtures.

o Recycling condensate water for the HVAC chiller system saves an estimated 1.3 million gallons of water/year.

o Water softener and a TRASAR 3D system reduce the amount of water needed for the HVAC system saving an estimated 1.1 million gallons of water/year!

· If all US residential homes installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water & more than $18 billion dollars per year!  (Environmental Protection Agency website http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/water/benefits.htm )

· Each employee uses an estimated 5.5 gallons/work day or 1,430 gallons/work year (260 days).

100 North Tampa Recycles:

· 28 pounds of aluminum/week

· 202 pounds of glass/week

· 12 pounds of plastic/week

Energy

· There are 22,457 light bulbs in our building.

· 100 North Tampa has the prestigious ENERGY STAR award.

· 100 North Tampa is in the top 25% of facilities in the country for energy performance.

· 100 North Tampa’s energy use is 30% less than the national average!

Misc.

· Average of 1,093 occupants and 325 visitors/day.

· The average American will throw away 600 times their weight (90,000lbs/47.5 Tons) in garbage over their lifetime.

· Glass can be recycled forever.

Hand Hygiene Tips

· Wash your hands at least 3 times/day for at least 20 seconds each time.

· Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

· Encourage others to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer.

· Clean your workspace often.

Reduce Pests Tips

1. Keep food service and break rooms thoroughly cleaned during the day. Our cleaning service will thoroughly clean after hours.
2. All food and waste should be kept in airtight containers.
3. Report dripping faucets or leaking pipes.
4. Rinse or isolate empty beverage containers to deter sugar-loving pests.
5. Clean all spills promptly.
6. Eliminate clutter to simplify cleaning and minimize hiding places for pests.

What are YOU going to do when one day you turn on the shower and no water comes out?  Or you turn on the kitchen sink and no water comes out?  Or you turn on your sprinklers and no water comes out?

This could happen in our lifetime if we don’t change the way we WASTE Water.  The average person uses 100 Gallons of Water per DAY!

Currently in Tampa, FL, the City of Tampa implemented stringent water restrictions due to the lack of water in our reservoirs.  We cannot water our lawn, wash our cars, buildings have to maintain higher temperatures (78) due to the massive amounts of water cooling towers use.  

I am all for these restrictions because I would rather drink water than water my lawn or flush a toilet.  Water keeps us alive.  We need water more than anything.  We all need to start being more conscious when using water.  

• Turn the water off when you brush your teeth.
  
• Don’t flush the toilet as much
• Retrofit to Low-Flow, High-Efficiency water fixtures
• Stop Wasting Water!
• Fix leaks
• Go Green
• LEED Certify your building to use less water & energy
• Challenge yourself to use less Water
• Hold yourself accountable
• Think Green

Americans waste more than any country in the world.  We are the leader yet we abuse mother nature like it doesn’t matter.  This is unacceptable behavior and it needs to change, NOW.

-Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

Please vote for myself, Cal Buikema and 100 North Tampa as being in the top 100 people, places, businesses for “Greening” Tampa Bay.

Go to:  www.CLTampa.com/Green – click Green 100, Green Vote

Scroll down to our names, check the box and click Vote.  Thank you!

The following LEED EB O&M case study demonstrates how 100 North Tampa reduced their water usage creating $9-$15,000/year in cost savings. The most efficient and effective way to facilitate/streamline the LEED (EB:  O&M) Certification is to hire a specialized LEED AP.

 -Bryan Lauer, LEED AP.  813.221.7196

100 North Tampa, LEED EB (O&M)- Water Usage & Cost Savings Case Study

Our LEED team started by creating a water use baseline and comparing that to actual water use.  100 North Tampa’s building fixtures (toilets, urinals, faucets, sinks, shower heads) used an estimated 3.1 Million Gallons of Water/Year compared to a 3.2 Million Baseline (160% of UPC Standards).  We upgraded/retrofit our building fixtures (toilets, shower heads, faucets) with high-efficiency, low-flow products, now having an actual water use of 1.7 Million Gallons, saving 1.5 Million Gallons of Water/Year!

• The project cost was $85k.
• In year 8 we recoup the $85k and save $9k, Yr. 9- $15k, Yr. 10- $15k, etc., in water costs.
• 100 North Tampa saves 1.5 Million Gallons of Potable Water/Year (48% water reduction from baseline)
• We exchanged 140 toilets, 173 faucets and 14 showerheads

100 North Tampa is a 42-story, 550,000sf office high-rise in downtown Tampa, managed by CLW Real Estate Services Group  (www.CLWrg.com).  

Built in 1993, 100 North Tampa is the newest, and prestigious, office high-rise in downtown Tampa.  The building is 96% leased and includes amenities such as:  YMCA, concierge, dry-cleaning, newsstand, superior views, superior management, parking garage and auto-detail shop.  

In 2008, 100 North Tampa achieved the well-known ENERGY STAR award and in the top 25% of facilities in the country for energy performance.  The building’s Energy Use is 30% below the national average!

Management’s goal is to reduce our Carbon Footprint as much as possible.  We do this by following the guidelines set forth in the LEED EB:  Operations & Maintenance.  Following these guidelines will not only reduce our Carbon Footprint but will reduce water usage, use environmentally friendly products and recycle more than just paper, plastic, cans and bottles.

Policies and procedures are put in place to be a leader in sustainable practice because we care about our World’s future.

LEED EB:  Operations and Maintenance, aka “LEED EBOM”, is the USGBC’s latest version of the Existing Building (EB) guidelines for LEED Certification.  LEED EBOM has more credits and less Pre-Requisites compared to the 2.0 Version making LEED “EBOM” easier to obtain LEED Certification.

Obtaining LEED EBOM Certification is a process that can take anywhere from 5 months to 1 year.  Hiring a LEED AP with LEED Existing Building experience is the best way to streamline the LEED Certification process.

I am currently undergoing LEED EBOM Certification for a 550,000sf office high-rise in Tampa, FL.  As of today, 3/30/09, we are well on our way of becoming LEED Certified.

To find out more about converting your building (office, industrial, residential, retail, school/university, hospital) into a LEED (EBOM) Certified, please contact Bryan Lauer, LEED AP, directly at 813.349.8550 or bblauer@clwrg.com

Check out the latest facts on my Green Facts Page:

Recycling Facts Sheet

 (http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html)

Paper

·      Recycling 1 Ton of paper saves:

o    17 mature trees,

o   7,000 Gallons/Water

o   3 cubic yards of landfill space

o   2 barrels of oil, and

o   4,100 kw hours/electricicy (enough energy to power a home for 5 months)

·      More than 56% of paper consumed in the US in ’07 was recycled.  That equals 360/lbs for each person in the Country. http://www.paperrecycles.org/paper_environment/index.html

·      400 paper mills use recovered materials for their paper producing process

·      We each use roughly one 100ft tree by way of paper and wood products/year

Water

·      If all US residential homes installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 Trillion Gallons of water and more than $18 Billion dollars per year!

·      If 1 out of every 100 residential homes converted to water-efficient fixtures, we would roughly save 100 Million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and 80,000 TONS of GHG (GreenHouse Gas Emissions).  That’s roughly taking 15,000 vehicles from the road for 1 year!

·      If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier you probably have an inefficient model using 3.5-6 Gallons/flush.  Now you can install 1.3 Gallons/flush OR Zero-Gallons/flush.

·      Faucets generally flow 2 Gallons/Minute. Save 8 Gallons/Day (240/month) by turning it off while brushing your teeth.

·      Americans use an average of 100 gallons of water each day

·      Surveys have showed 36 states anticipate water shortages by 2013

·      56 billion kilowatt-hours per year- the amount of electricity consumed by public water supplying and treating facilities

·      5 minutes of a running faucet equals roughly a 14 hour run time of a 60-watt light bulb

·      Bath= 70 Gallons/Water; Shower= up to 30 Gallons/Water (get a high-efficiency shower-head.

·      Outdated washing machines use about 40 Gallons/load; high-efficient models use less than 28 Gallons/load

Aluminum

·      Recycling aluminum saves roughly 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from raw materials.  Energy saved by recycling 1 Ton equals the amount of energy the average American home consumes over a 10 year period! Keep America Beautiful

·      Americans throw away enough aluminum they could rebuild our commercial air fleet in 1 Month!

·      Recycling tin and steel saves 74% of energy used to produce virgin steel.

·      100 Million- Amount of cans used/day

·      Americans could supply the nation’s automakers on a continuous basis with the amount of iron and steel they throw out

·      More than 50% of cans are recycled

Glass

·      In 1994 if all glass bottles/jars were laid end to end it would reach the moon and half way back to earth.

·      Glass can be recycled forever.

General Garbage

·      The Average American will throw 600 times their weight (90,000 lbs/47.5 Tons of trash) in garbage over their lifetime.

The cover on the March issue of National Geographic has the headline “Energy Conservation, it starts at home”.  The article is a case study of a household’s goal to reduce their carbon footprint by 80%.  This article explains how households can Go Green and Save up to 60% of their electricity cost by using best practices.  

Some of the best practices used are:

• Make sure your house is not leaking air;
• Turn A/C off;
• Open windows to get fresh air;
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs; and 
• Reduce car usage.

“The average US Household uses 150 pounds of CO2 per day… that’s more than twice the European average.”

You can view this article at:  http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/03/energy-conservation/miller-text

Do your part, Go Green, Save Money and Save the World. 

-Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

A LEED AP is a person who possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the exam administered by the Green Building Council Institute (GBCI).  LEED AP’s can facilitate and streamline the LEED Certification process.  LEED AP has a universal meaning, however, you should be cautious when hiring a LEED AP.

Understanding the LEED AP’s experience and expertise is essential when hiring.  Hiring the right LEED AP to certify your building/project can be very beneficial.  LEED AP’s can facilitate and streamline the LEED Certification process.

I am a LEED AP and currently undergoing LEED Certification for a 550,000 square foot office high-rise in downtown Tampa.  To find out more about LEED Certification please view the LEED page at the top of the website or feel free to contact me at 813.363.0861.  

-Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

LEED is the national accepted benchmark for sustainable practices and a third party certification program.  LEED gives owners the tools necessary to measure your buildings performance.  To find out more go to the LEED page at the top of the site.

LEED is ever-growing today as there are many different projects striving to attain this relatively new designation.  There are 6 types of LEED projects:  LEED EB (Existing Buildings), LEED NC (New Construction), LEED CI (Commercial Interiors), LEED CS (Core & Shell), LEED for Schools, Retail & Healthcare and LEED for Homes/Neighborhood Development (in pilot).

Under the 6 LEED types, there are 6 categories:  Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation in Operations.

LEED and the USGBC are continuously growing and developing better sustainable practices to base their standards.  Please view the LEED page on this website, located at the top.

Watch the Video

Example - Use for yourself and Download the spreadsheet here: http://www.productdose.com/article.php?article_id=1142

                                                      Incandescent               CFL               LED

life span (in hours)  …………. 1500      ………….   10,000   ….. 60,000

Watts                                                60                                14                   6

Cost                ………….             $1.345      ………..    $2.98   …..   $54.95

KWh used over 60K hrs       3600                    840                360

Electricity Cost    ………..      $821.72   …….   $191.73  …..  $82.17

         Savings                                  0                         $629.99        $739.55

Bulbs for 60k hours usage ………  40          ……….        6       ……     1         

Equivalent bulb expense            $53.80                 $17.88            $54.95

60k hr. lighting spend  ……… $875.52    ……   $209.61  …..  $137.12

In my opinion, LED lights are #1, CFL #2, Incandescent = Out of business.

Go Green and Save Money by switching to LED bulbs and benefiting financially from improved technology.  There are so many benefits from switching it’s a blessing.  Go Green!

LED (Light -Emitting Diode) is a light source discovered in the early 20th century by way of semiconducter materials.  There are many advantages using LED lights, such as:   Longer Life, Slow Failure, Energy Efficient (uses less energy), Toxicity, Size, Cool Light, Cycling, Shock Resistant, Color, Off/On Time,  and much more.  

Facts/Advantages

• LED lights can save anywhere from 30-50% in electricity usage.
• LEDs have an estimated 35,000-50,000 hours of useful, longer life, whereas fluorescent light bulbs have a useful life less than half of that!
• LED lights slowly burn out opposed to a sudden burn-out.
• LED bulbs emit more light per watt compared to incandescent lights.
• There is NO mercury in LED lights!
• LED lights can come in many sizes because they are made from circuit board.
• LED bulbs produce less heat compared to standard bulbs in most cases.
• Because of such a long life, LED lights are perfect for frequent on/off cycles, whereas fluorescent bulbs burn out much more frequently.
• As mentioned, LED bulbs are solid and therefore industrial and challenging to break, whereas LEDs competition is frail and simple to destroy.
• LEDs can change color easily and do not need other harmful substances like their competitiors do.
• LED lights can light up in microseconds.
• LED bulbs can be dimmed very easily.
• White LED lamps are beginning to make its way into cars.

LED lights are used for many different reasons such as:  

• Light bulbs;
• Large video display (like in Times Square, NYC);
• Grow lights;
• Strobe lights;
• Street lights;
• Exit signs;
• Traffic lights;
• Automobiles;
• Sterilization;
• and the most economical, Machine Vision Systems (i.e., barcode scanners)

There are, however, a few disadvantages with LED lights, such as:  Price, Temperature Dependency, Light Quality, Blue Hazard and Blue Pollution potential.

Facts/Disadvantages

• Currently LED lights are more expensive because of the low lumen output, power supplies and drive circuits required, HOWEVER, they last so much longer and save so much power and cost LED bulbs more than pays for themself.  An Example is in the post Go Green = Save Money Tip #4.
• High ambient temperatures could potentially lead to overheating the LED unit, which potentially causes device failure.
• Older White and Blue LED lights could potentially differ people’s perception of colors in objects.
• White and Blue lights are capable of surpassing the safety limits of lights.
• It is best NOT to purchase white and blue LED lights but BUY other LED lights or state of the art white and blue LED lights.

The majority of this information came from Wikepedia.  To learn more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED#Advantages_of_using_LEDs

LEED Certification is the process of converting or developing a structure into a sustainable, energy efficient building by implementing best practices when compared to the norm.  The LEED process entails the entire building operations and maintenance systems.   Policies and procedures are created to evaluate performance from a whole-building operations perspective over its lifetime enabling a standard for what a green building is.

There are 5 categories under LEED:  Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources and Environmental Quality.  Innovation in Operations is another category which builds off the 5 main categories.

Under the 5 LEED Categories are certain pre-requisites and credit requirements.  All pre-requisites must be completed and a minimum number of credits must also be completed in order to become LEED certified.  There are different levels of LEED Certification:  Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.  To become LEED Certified you must obtain at least 34 points (up to 42), Silver 43-50, Gold 51-67 and Platinum is 68-92.

Benefits

LEED Certified structures significantly reduce environmental impacts through high-performance, market-leading design, construction, and operations practices.  Implementing LEED green building design has additional benefits such as reduced operating costs (energy and water use efficient), increased marketability, better indoor air quality which studies show to increase worker productivity levels, healthier environment and reduce potential liability.  LEED Certified buildings save 10-50% in electricity cost, use less water, and recycle more compared to the norm.  

LEED Certification is comprehensive in scope but simple once in-place.  To learn more go to the LEED page on this site.  If you have questions you can email me, Bryan Lauer, at blauer123@hotmail.com

A LEED Accredited Professional (AP) is a person who has demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the test administered by the Green Building Council Institute (GBCI).  LEED APs have the ability to facilitate and streamline the LEED Certification process.  

There are many benefits with obtaining the LEED AP designation:

• Marketing credential to a client, prospective client, employer, prospective employer.
• High level of knowledge for sustainable practice
• Listed on the GBCI website
• Obtain a LEED Certificate from the GBCI
• Eligible for projects that require a LEED AP
• Encourages knowledge and expansion of understanding LEED APs and LEED Certification Process
• Promotes a better understanding of LEED

The many benefits of becoming LEED Certified is invaluable in understanding sustainable and healthier living. 

LEED AP has a universal meaning, however, there are different types of LEED APs, and include:  Existing Building (EB), New Construction (NC), Commercial Interiors (CI) and Core & Shell (CS).  If you are considering hiring a LEED AP you need to understand their capacity and line of work.

Currently the USGBC and GBCI are experiencing a vast amount of growth, therefore the LEED AP designation is ever evolving.  

To learn more about becoming a LEED AP, go to the GBCI website at www.gbci.org

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) was formed in 1993 and is the leading force in the green movement.

The USGBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the US go green.  The USGBC coordinates “the establishment and evolution of a national consensus effort to provide the industry with the tools necessary to design, build, and operate buildings that deliver high performance inside and out…As the preeminent organization that represents the entire building industry on environmental building matters, USGBC’s unique perspective and collective power provide our members with enormous opportunity to effect change in the way buildings are designed, operated, and maintained”. (USGBC, LEED EB: O&M manual)

USGBC has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, administered by the Green Building Council Institute (GBCI).  Please view the LEED page to find out more about LEED and going green.  The USGBC develops the LEED rating system and LEED education classes and resources.  The GBCI administers the LEED credentialing programs that support the process of proven practices of the Green Rating System outlined in LEED.  

The GBCI handles all aspects of the LEED Professional Accreditation process.  The aspects include exam development, registration and delivery.  ”The separation into two organizational entities brings the credentialing program closer toward meeting standards for programmatic excellence put forth by ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024.” (GBCI website- About section)

If you have any questions please contact Bryan Lauer, LEED AP, at 813.363.0861.

Source Reduction, one of the best ways to Go Green & Save Money simultaneously.

Source Reduction= Not Buying the item.

Source reduction is the “method of reducing the amount of unnecessary material brought into a building.  Examples include purchasing products with less packaging and sustainable design.” (USGBC)

You can utilize Source Reduction for anything you consider purchasing.

Example 1- How many Starbucks junkies are there? Many people get their fix from Starbucks daily, spending anywhere from $3-7/day, for their special drink.  Stop going to Starbucks, or at least lessen your visits, you can save anywhere from $500 to $2,500 a year!  Other bi-products of this action are:  reducing your Carbon Footprint (reducing Global Warming), create less trash and leave those un-needed calories back at the coffee shop.

Example 2- Many people purchase 24 packs of water from the grocery store, let’s say once a month at $6.00/case.  Buying this item  is an expense to you, creates waste (packaging + empty bottles) and increases your carbon footprint.

You do not NEED water bottles, you can fill up a glass of water from your sink.  Water from your sink is safe and drinkable.

If you did not purchase this item you would save money, reduce waste (because you will not have any) and reduce your carbon footprint.  You can save $72/year if you stop purchasing water bottles.

Think of how much you can save by not purchasing items you don’t NEED.

How does one go green and save money at the same time?

Most don’t care about going green, however, if you can save money by going green then most will care (unless you are dumb and against saving the world).  

The following tips/strategies will help each individual save money and go green simultaneously!  

Tip #1-Only drive when absolutely necessary.

-Doing this will help you keep fuel in your car, reduce gas station visits, save massive amounts of money (over the long term) and help Go Green by reducing your carbon footprint (greenhouse gas)/Global Warming.

Example- If you bring your lunch to work opposed to driving somewhere for lunch, you may save 6 miles worth of driving.  Do this 4 times a week you save 24 miles. In 52 weeks you save 1,248 miles.  It may cost 0.40 cents per mile, that equals savings of $500/year! (that’s just lunch time).

Now think of other ways you can be more efficient with your driving. 

try to work from home (telecommute) at least 1 day/week, carpool with a neighbor or colleague, use public transportation, have your kids ride the bus, ride your bike to work (if safe), Go Green!!!

Hypermiling is the Green word of the year.  Hypermiling is “attempting to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s car and one’s driving technique”, according to Wayne Gerdes, the person who coined the phrase. How do you receive the best milesage?  turn off your a/c and radio, do not accelerate fast, do not stop too quick, shut down at long lights, practice being conservative, anything you feel will help you save gas(money) and go green.

Tip #2- Turn your home A/C off (or at least down) during the day.

-Doing this will help you save, immensely, on your electricity bill, use less of the city’s power, and reduce your carbon footprint/greenhouse gases, which reduces Global Warming and helps you Go Green!

Example- If you turn your A/C off during the day (6 hours) you may save 200 watts of power per day.  If you pay $0.01/watt you will save $2.00/day.  If you do this 300 days/year you will save $600/year!

If you follow Tips 1 & 2 alone, you will save $1,100/year! so Go Green!

Why is Carbon Footprint so important?  Carbon Footprint, aka GHG (greenhouse gas), is directly related to Global Warming!  If actions are not taken right now to reduce our Carbon Footprint we are setting up future generations for potentially impossible tasks. Reduce your Carbon Footprint and you will reduce Global Warming.  It’s a fact!

Reduce your Carbon Footprint to help “Go Green”?

When asking yourself this question one must understand:

• What Carbon Footprint means/is;
• What your Carbon Footprint consist of; 
• Calculate your Carbon Footprint, then
• Work on reducing it.

Carbon Footprint is “the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product” (UK Carbon Trust 2008).  In Lehman’s Terms it is the amount of emissions you produce directly (gas (cars, planes), coal (tranes, houses) or nuclear energy (electricity), to name the most common) or indirectly (public and financial services, car manufacture and delivery, furnishings and recreation and leisure).  Wikipedia is a great resource to learn and understand most everything about Carbon Footprint.

There are many resources to calculate your Carbon Footprint.  Click any of the following sites to calculate your carbon footprint, it will take about 2-5 minutes.  Try to be as accurate as possible.

• www.b-e-f.org/offsets/?gclid=CL3VwfqQnZgCFQu-GgodGwZmoA
• www.carbonfootprint.com
• www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

Once you know what your Carbon Footprint consist of, you can work on reducing it to help Go Green.  Strategies to reduce your Carbon Footprint include:  driving less, buying less, taking less plane trips/vacations, turn your A/C off (or lower) when you leave for work, carpool, utilize public transportation opposed to using your private vehicle, ride your bike, walk, purchase only essential items, purchase items that use recycled content, reuse items as much as sanitarily possible.

Overall Practice being Conservative.  This will help you reduce your Carbon Footprint and Go Green!

-Green Man

WHY Go Green?

“Going Green” is one of the hottest topics discussed today.

Looking out for the future of our existence is the main reason people need to start “Going Green” .

Global Warming, Smog, Pollution (both air and waste), Air Quality, Heat Island Effect, Water Supply, Energy Consumption and Ozone Depletion are just a few of the many topics directly related to what “Going Green” is trying to accomplish for the sake of the world, including humans and animals alike.

Actions by every individual are critical in helping this cause and it starts from people in control (i.e., Governments and Leaders world-wide).   If actions are not taken now we are setting up our future generations to face potentially impossible situations that will lead to chaos.  This chaos will mirror the book of Revelations in the Bible, something that no one in their right mind wants to face.

I encourage everyone to explore this newly created site by browsing the different pages that explain the Benefits, Strategies and Facts about “Going Green”.

Please feel free to write comments to let others know that you care about this world and want to make a difference.

-Green Man

Welcome to Go Green World, a Blog about “Going Green”!  This Blog discusses benefits, strategies, facts and much more on going green.  The Blog is primarily directed towards Existing Commercial Buildings, however, most green strategies can be related to all aspects of life.  Help go green by browsing this site and providing feedback.

Your comments are welcomed and appreciated.

-Green Man