GO GREEN

Check out the amazing Class “A” Office Buildings I’m working on in Florida.

These projects are in different stages of obtaining LEED Certification.  There are many benefits to achieving LEED Certification, such as:  Cost Savings, Electric Savings, Water Savings, Increase Recycling, Improve Building Operations & Maintenance.

Find out more about getting your project LEED Certified.  Email Bryan Lauer at Bryan@2BGreenWorld.com or call 813.96GREEN (47336).

2B Green World is based in Tampa, FL specializing in LEED Certification Consulting. We are reliable, effective and efficient getting your project LEED Certified.  2B Green World has completed multiple Existing Building projects having an average payback less than 2 years!

Project – 100 North Tampa; Gross SF – 590,947

Total Project Cost – $155,000

Payback – 7 – 8 months

Project – 2525 Ponce de Leon; Gross SF – 263,118

Total Cost – est. $65,000

Payback – 7 -8 months

Project – 2555 Ponce de Leon; Gross SF – 112,711

Total Cost – est. $55,000

Payback – 1.34 years

We are the cost-effective route with obtaining LEED Certification through consulting.  We treat every client individually and develop a plan based on their goals.

Our LEED consulting fees vary, primarily based on Gross Square Feet, working within our clients budgets and time frames.

For more information call Bryan Lauer at 813.363.0861 or email at blauer123@hotmail.com

Please call with any questions or interest you may have.  Go Green!

Straight from the Environmental Protection Agency, here are the top 10 cities with the most Energy Star labeled buildings (based on the # of EStar labeled building in 2009):

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Washington, DC
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Denver, CO
5. Chicago, IL
6. Houston, TX
7. Lakeland, FL
8. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
9. Atlanta, GA
10. New York, NY

Find labeled buildings in your city here – http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=labeled_buildings.locator

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is the most recognized standard when going “Green”.  “It’s (LEED) like ADA (American’s with Disability Act) when it first came into existence.”  LEED is becoming industry standard putting those Certified head and shoulders above others.  LEED has different meanings that everyone must be cognizant of.

LEED addresses the complete lifecycle of buildings.  There are different LEED systems to address different project types:  Homes, Neighborhood Development, Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, New Construction, Schools, Healthcare, Retail and Operations & Maintenance.

Once the Operations and Maintenance of the various LEED project types begin creates sustainability, including cost savings.  The bulk of cost savings is realized through implementing energy efficient best management practices outlined in the LEED Reference Guide.   There are many benefits to LEED, including:  Increasing Occupancy Rate, Reposition Asset, Increase Asset Value, Reduce Operating Expenditures, Increase Marketability, Improve Corporate Image, Improve Indoor Air Quality, Utilize Environmentally Friendly Products.  The cost of LEED can typically be paid back within 3 to 5 years, sometimes sooner.

“The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven building rating system based on existing proven technology.  It evaluates environmental performance from a whole-building perspective over a building’s life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building…LEED has five environmental categories:  Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality…It is based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strikes a balance between known, established practices and emerging concepts. It is a performance-oriented system in which points are earned for satisfying criteria that address specific environmental impacts inherent in the design, construction, and operations and maintenance of buildings.” (USGBC- LEED EB: O&M manual)

There are different levels of certification (Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum) awarded based on the number of points earned.  The LEED process is very comprehensive in scope yet simple once established.

For further information please visit www.GoGreenCommercially.com or call Bryan Lauer at 813.349.8550, bblauer@clwrg.com

-Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

CLW Real Estate Services Group

IF YOU DON’T KNOW, EARTH WEEK IS THIS WEEK AND EARTH DAY IS THURSDAY.

I hope everyone takes a moment to reflect on Mother Earth and how you treat Her.

Please be environmentally sensitive.

COMMENT to this post AND TELL US WHAT YOU DO TO BE SUSTAINABLE!

“I help existing buildings implement sustainable practices that meet LEED standards throughout Florida.  I’m looking to expand my LEED Certification for Existing Building expertise in hopes of reducing the US office building carbon footprint saving building owners money and much, much more.”

- Bryan Lauer, LEED AP

bblauer@clwrg.com

813.349.8550

This article was written by Houston Neal

In the next ten to twenty years, “electrical contractor” will no longer be a suitable job title for electricians. They will transition into “energy contractors” to support the fast-growing green construction market.

We see this as a coming renaissance in electrical contracting. There has been a revival of interest in the electrical trade as home owners and corporations adopt alternative methods (e.g. solar, wind, etc) to power buildings. What’s driving this? Federal incentives, lower material costs and savings from reduced energy spending.

A study by the American Solar Energy Society projects renewable energy jobs for electricians to grow approximately 900% by 2030, just in the state of Colorado.

To take advantage of upcoming opportunities, electricians will need to “green” their skill-set and re-brand themselves. We’ll share more on this later. First, let’s take a look at the trends driving this change.

Green Construction is on the Rise
According to a 2009 Booz Allen Hamilton study, green construction will skyrocket over the next five years. The report projects green construction to generate $554 billion dollars in GDP, provide $396 billion in labor earnings and support or create over 7.9 million jobs from 2009 to 2013. These figures are way up from the previous 8-year period. From 2000-2008, GDP from green construction was just $173 billion, labor earnings was $123 billion and number of jobs created was 2.4 million.

This growth comes directly from increased demand for green buildings, which is largely driven by cost savings from reduced property operating expenses, and by new regulations from federal legislation (e.g. American Clean Energy and Security Act).

Clearly, environmentally friendly construction affects the architecture engineering construction (AEC) industry collectively. But how will this impact electricians?

Electricians are in High Demand
The growing green construction market will create new demand for electricians. And to keep up with demand, electricians will need to diversify their skill-set. We obviously expect to see electricians working on solar photovoltaic and wind turbine installations, but that’s just the beginning. They’ll work on building retrofits, mass transit and light rail projects, “smart” electrical grid transmission systems and more. Here are a few examples of the unique places we expect electricians to find work:

• Lighting system upgrades – There are an estimated 2.2 million commercial buildings in the U.S. that have antiquated lighting systems (old fixtures, ballasts, lamps and controls). Additionally, all federal buildings are required to switch to Energy Star lighting products by the end of 2013 (in accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007). Some of these upgrades can be handled by the local maintenance guy, but others will require the expertise and skill of electrical contractors.

• Parking lot electrical outlets – A state bill in Minnesota will require half of new parking facilities to include outlets to charge electric vehicles. Who will install these docking stations? Electricians of course. Members of the Minnesota Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 292 are already preparing to provide labor for these projects. If successful, we expect other states and cities to follow Minnesota’s example.

• Wind turbine manufacturing – According to a report from the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), a typical 250-person wind turbine manufacturing company has two electricians as employees. This isn’t a large number, but it’s an example of the variety of job opportunities available.

• Electric vehicle electricians – Jobs for electricians will also emerge in adjacent industries. For example, electricians will need to be trained in auto mechanics – or auto mechanics will need to be trained in electrical contracting – in order to meet demand for electric vehicle maintenance. And the career outlook is good: electric vehicle electricians make an average of $39-$59 thousand a year.

For additional information on green job opportunities for electricians, check out this article from the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

LEED Creates New Opportunities
Projects applying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status are growing just as fast as the rest of the green construction market. With many LEED credits being electric- and energy-related, electricians will have an opportunity to win work on these projects. However, they’ll need to get versed on credit requirements, and should even consider becoming a LEED accredited professional (AP). LEED projects get an extra point for having an AP on the job, which could be a selling-point when bidding on jobs.

Here’s a sample of credits that require the knowledge and skill of electricians.

Electricians Must Act Now
With so many opportunities on the horizon, contractors need to make sure they’re ready to win jobs. To get started, they must gain the skills and knowledge to take on green projects. Both the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) offer education programs for green electrical work.

Next, contractors should market and promote their new green credentials. Update your website and other marketing materials, syndicate a press release to trade magazines and local media, and get more exposure online by joining directories (e.g. CalFinder.com) or advertising in search engines.

Finally, update your bidding process to make sure you win those green electrical jobs. You’ll need to bid accurately to ensure job profitability, but competitively to make sure you win the job. This means having up-to-date pricing information on materials and labor. Good electrical estimating software will have specific capabilities to estimate solar panel installations and other types of renewable energy jobs.

First and foremost, happy New Year!  Now let’s make a change, starting now in January 2010.

Currently the parts per million of CO2 is at record highs at 390 ppm.  The threshold (360ppm) was surpassed and if changes aren’t made soon it won’t be very good for any of us.

People always want what’s best for their loved ones. One of the best gifts to give is preserving the environment we live in for our loved ones.

i’m in love with the girl of my dreams.  I try my hardest to do what’s right, including preserving vital resources that are necessary for existence.  doing small tasks like recycling, using less water, not turning on lights, etc. all make a difference.  How? It takes a conscious effort and lifestyle changes that we all can do.

Help the people that won’t be born for another 100 years by doing your part now.  You can and will make a difference and every little bit helps.  For more information click here – http://www.GoGreenCommercially.com/2010-challenge/

Please let me know what you are doing in making this a better world for you and everyone else

LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings is the latest version the USGBC and GBCI have developed for existing buildings and is called Green Buildings Operations and Maintenance (GBOM).  The content within the reference guide is slightly different than the previous version – Existing Buildings Operation and Maintenance (EBOM), however, the credit points have changed significantly while the pre-requisites have stayed the same.

The credit points now have the following scale:  Certified – 40 – 49, Silver – 50 – 59, Gold – 60 – 79, Platinum – 80 – 110.  Although there are more points to be had, to achieve certification requires achieving more points than the EBOM version (32).

There is also a new version of LEED Online.  I used it today for the first time registering a project in Coral Gables.  Although different, it seems to be more user friendly once used to the formatting.  The submittal templates are also modified from the previous version making it more cumbersome.

In conclusion I believe the USGBC and GBCI need to stick with the same version of LEEDOnline and the Submittal Templates in order for people to be efficient and effective.  Changing these every year or two makes it much more difficult for LEED AP’s to master.

What seems to be the first major casualty of Global Warming, Kivalina, the Alaskan island home to roughly 400, is loosing shoreline at an alarming rate.  Natives mount the seawall with sandbags as a last effort to save their home, and, unfortunately, this isn’t helping.

What would you do if your home was slowly disappearing?

These natives have taken a valiant step by suing energy companies such as Exxon, Shell, BP and many others for their impact on Global Warming.

But why is it the energy companies are the ones at fault?  Isn’t every person who drives a car or uses oil/gas at fault?  When a person is shot and killed by a gun, the person’s family isn’t suing the gun maker, they are suing the person at fault.  Same should go with global warming – it’s the individuals, companies, governments who are consuming the oil/gas that should be at fault.

What are your thoughts???  Comment on this article…

Sustainable Services is an LLC specializing in converting Existing Buildings into LEED Certified buildings.  We are a boutique firm based out of Tampa, FL.  We have the capacity to work anywhere around the country.  We are relationship driven and treat each client as if there were our only client.

Our cost-effective process produces the following benefits for building owners:

• Reduce Operating Expenses
• Increase Marketability
• Increase Occupancy Rate
• Increase Rental Rate
• Increase Sales Price
• Increase Recycling
• Improve Building Operations
• Improve Indoor Air Quality
• Improve Occupant Comfort
• Utilize “Green”, environmentally-friendly products

The first project undertaken was a 42 story, 550,000 square foot office high-rise in downtown Tampa (100 North Tampa Street).  

For more information, please contact Bryan Lauer at 813.349.8550 or blauer123@hotmail.com

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.

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.

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.