GO GREEN

By:  Bryan Lauer

Don’t print this, just save it on your computer for reference

Sustainable Sites

Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products that have a Green Seal label or products that do not contain chemicals

• www.greenseal.org displays environmentally friendly products
• Use paints, adhesives and sealants that have low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds)
• Minimize the amount of landscape irrigation to conserve water while upholding the sites looks/integrity
• Check for erosion from too much water or foot traffic
• If fertilizers are necessary, consider the following best practices:
• Use fertilizer based on need not by calendar
• Use fertilizer only during times of plant uptake and not when heavy rain is expected
• Keep at least 25 feet from water bodies
• Use organic and natural materials as much as possible
• If synthetic fertilizers are used, choose slow-release formulations, and do not use “weed and feed” products
• Protect or restore open habitats to provide habitat and promote biodiversity
• Consider retrofitting driveway with grass or paint white or use a white membrane to lessen the heat-island affect (probably too expensive with NO payback)

Water Efficiency

• Install 0.5 gpm (Gallon per minute) aerators on all faucets to reduce the water consumption.  Aerators are cheap and you probably have at least 2.2gpm faucets right now
• Put a brick in the sistern of the toilet to take up space to use less water OR
• Retrofit your toilets to 1.2 gpf (Gallons per flush) or water-less urinals
• Consider retrofitting your shower-heads to 1.0 gpm (gallons per minute) – they are probably 2.5 – 5 gpm right now!
• Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR rated dishwasher and washer/dryer
• Consider installing a water meter to track your water usage on a weekly basis or more often
• Consider upgrading your irrigation system to a low-flow, high tech system that uses:
  • Bubblers
  • Sprayers
  • Rain sensor
  • Drip irrigation
  • Reduce the watering schedule until you see a negative impact.  You want to use as less water as possible while upholding the looks/integrity

Energy & Atmosphere

• Unplug anything not in use
• Turn A/C up or off when you leave
• Turn lights off when you do not need them
• Understand the types of light bulbs you have
  • Wattage
  • Life
  • Lumen output
  • Replace high wattage lightbulbs with new technology bulbs that use less wattage, last longer and have similar light colo
    • This will save hundreds or thousands of dollars every year!
    • Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR rated appliances, computers, tv’s, etc.
    • Visit https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_index to learn more about tips to reduce energy at your home.
    • Consider installing solar panels, wind turbines or thermal technology.  Google these names and research the cost, benefits and federal tax incentives/credits that make purchasing make sense.
    • Consider having your house checked for any cracks or leaks and make sure it’s insulated to help save energy. This includes looking at:
      • Windows
      • Attic
      • Garage
      • Doors

Materials and Resources

• Begin purchasing environmentally friendly products as much as possible.  Click here to find a list of products – http://www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/index.cfm
• Recycle as much as possible, including at a minimum:
  • Paper
  • Cardboard
  • Plastic
  • Aluminum cans
  • Glass (can be recycled forever)
  • Light bulbs (give to me to recycle)
  • Batteries (give to me to recycle)
  • Electronics (give to me)
  • Furniture (give to me)
  • Toner cartridges (give to me)
  • Purchase food that is USDA organic, Food Alliance Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Protected Harvest Certified, Fair Trade or Marine Stewardship council’s Blue Eco Label
  • Purchase food produced within a 100-mile radius

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Use filters that have a Minimum Efficient Rating Value (MERV) of 13 or higher.  This filter will capture 99% of all the bad stuff in the air
• Consider purchasing air purifiers that have HEPA filters and change on a 6 month basis
• Begin purchasing environmentally friendly products from here – http://www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/index.cfm
• Install entry way mats on the outside before you enter and on the inside right when you enter at all entrances.  Mats should be a combination of at least 10 feet long that will capture about 95% of the dirt on your shoes.
  • Clean/vacuum the mats on a daily basis
  • Studies show that having as much sunlight as possible leads to better productivity and less sickness
  • Consider purchasing sustainable cleaning equipment that meets the following criteria:
    • Vacuum cleaners certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute “Green Label” Testing Program and operate less then 70 decibles
    • Battery-powered equipment with gel batteries
    • Powered equipment designed to minimize vibration, noise and user fatigue
    • Equipment designed with safeguards, such as rollers or rubber bumpers, to reduce potential damage to building surfaces
    • Use pest control products that are organic and do not contain chemicals.  You can find a list here – http://www.sfenvironment.org/downloads/library/20100420_sf_pesticide_list__red_legged_frog.pdf

ANY QUESTIONS GIVE BRYAN LAUER A CALL AT 813.363.0861 OR EMAIL Bryan@2BGreenWorld.com

This article was written by Houston Neal of Software Advice for Electricians.

Earlier this year we reported on the “coming renaissance of electrical contracting,” an upward trend of electricians transitioning into energy contractors to keep up with demand for green construction. A fast growing segment of this green construction market is building retrofits, or energy efficient renovations. Numerous reports forecast retrofitting to become a multi-billion dollar market over the next three to four years:

• McGraw Hill estimates it will become a $10 to $15 billion market by 2014;
• Pike Research puts it at $6.6 billion annually; and,
• SBI Energy predicts green renovations will make up 13% of the total renovation market by 2015.

To help electricians segue into their new role and win a piece of the burgeoning market, we decided to write this follow-up article. Here we present five green retrofits electricians should pitch to drive business. While our guide is intended for electricians, it can be used by any homeowner or building owner looking to adopt sustainable building practices.

1) Relamping
Out of all the green retrofit projects, lighting retrofits present the biggest opportunity for electricians. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), lighting accounts for more than 40 perent of the commercial sector’s electricity consumption. Not to mention, it makes up nearly 20 percent of all electricity used in the United States (including residential and industrial spaces). This chart from the ACEEE illustrates how much lighting energy is used by different types of buildings.

These numbers can be significantly reduced by replacing antiquated lighting systems with an energy efficient substitute. Take for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs are much more efficient than incandescent lamps – LEDs use 2 to 10 watts of electricity while incandescent lamps use 60 watts – and they are close to becoming a replacement for fluorescent tubes (see: Are LED Tubes Ready for Prime Time?).

In addition to reduced energy consumption and operating costs, there are other carrots and sticks motivating building owners to retrofit their lighting systems. Utility companies and other organizations offer incentives (here’s a handy look-up tool for California residents), while new legislation requires buildings to use energy-efficient lighting.

Finally, factor in the 2.2 million buildings that are candidates for lighting-system upgrades, and you’ve got a lot of low hanging fruit in the market.

2) Daylight Harvesting
Daylight harvesting is the practice of reducing artificial light in a room when sunlight is available. According to a study performed by the NRC Institute for Research in Construction, it can reduce lighting energy costs by 20 to 60%. Call it “upselling” if you will, but electricians should pitch this retrofit to customers that are already relamping their homes and buildings.

A daylight harvesting system uses photosensors to detect light levels in a room. As sunlight becomes available, the artificial lighting will be reduced. When it’s cloudy or becomes dark outside, the level of artificial lighting will increase.

Three other lighting controls worth mentioning here are dimmers, motion sensors and timers. These energy savers have been around for years, but they are just as relevant today as when they first came out. Homeowners looking for simple ways to reduce energy can install any of the above. For more information, check out the US Department of Energy’s lighting guide.

3) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Retrofits
Mechanical contractors are typically more qualified to take on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofits. However, as electricians move into the role of energy contractors, they will need to provide a complete energy solution. Consider this quote from Lara Schwicht Richards, manager of marketing projects for the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

“Energy solutions are a growing market for electrical contractors at a time when traditional construction work is declining,” she says. “Customers can look to electrical contractors to provide a total energy solution—integrating multiple technologies, when appropriate—for their building project rather than simply installing a single product.”

Some HVAC retrofits will always require the know-how of mechanical contractors. But others can be performed by an electrician because of their overlapping skills and knowledge. For example, electricians can install electrical consumption economizers – devices that reduce energy use of AC units – or programmable thermostats that optimize efficiency of HVAC equipment.

Energy Retrofitters, a licensed electrical contractor from Fort Worth Texas, lists other HVAC retrofits among their services like installing oil, acid, and moisture (OAM) purgers for chillers and adding special additives (e.g. thermo-conductive heat transferring compounds) to HVAC equipment. Both reduce electricity use in HVAC equipment.

4) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems and Wind Turbines
Any article about green retrofits would be incomplete without a discussion of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and wind turbines. Solar photovoltaic systems – a.k.a. solar panels – are gaining traction in both residential and commercial applications. Lower production costs, government rebates and tax incentives are the primary drivers of increased adoption.

Grid-Tie Solar System

Electricians will likely have the most success pitching “grid-tie” solar systems, especially in areas where sunlight is not abundant. Using this type of system, the building remains connected to the utility power grid but disconnects as soon as enough solar power is available. Because these systems actually generate electricity, building owners may be able to receive payment or energy credits from their utility company.

Wind turbines are another viable option for building owners looking to recoup electricity costs. While less common than solar photovoltaic systems, wind turbines can reduce electricity bills by 50 to 90%, according to the American Wind Energy Association. However, wind turbines aren’t for everyone. They are too big for urban or small-lot suburban homes, and of course they’re not effective in places with low wind speeds.

Other forms of renewable energy include biomass and geothermal systems. These alternative power generation methods are getting attention and they present job opportunities for electricians. As Rob Colgan, executive director of marketing for NECA, points out:

“Consumers are becoming more educated about alternatives to conventional power generation, such as solar, wind and biomass. Effectively using these alternative methods of power generation, however, takes specific skills and experience with a wide array of new products.”

5) Energy Management Systems and Monitoring Devices
Energy management systems have garnered a lot of press over the last year because of Microsoft Hohm and Google PowerMeter. With the aim of helping consumers monitor and manage energy consumption, these programs have the potential to drastically reduce our country’s carbon emissions. Studies show that giving consumers access to detailed home energy information results in 5 to 15% savings on monthly electricity. If half our country adopted these systems, Google says this would be the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road!

Signing up for Hohm and PowerMeter is free and easy. However, accurately measuring energy use is more challenging. It requires the use of an energy monitoring device (e.g. TED). Installing these devices requires the knowledge of an electrician (or the bravery of a tech-savvy do-it-yourself’er). Multi-family, commercial and industrial buildings require a more sophisticated, “smart meter” system, and therefore necessitate the experience of electricians.

Wrapping up, these five retrofits make up a small portion of possible green renovations. There are hundreds more building products and technologies that will improve energy efficiency, while reducing energy costs. And with buildings producing up to 70% of some cities’ carbon emissions (as reported by the Energy Circle blog), there has never been a more relevant time to implement these technologies. So what other retrofits do you think we should include in our list? Leave us a comment if you know of a product, new technology or type of retrofit that can have a big impact on improving energy efficiency of a building.

Sustainable Consulting Solutions, in conjunction with CLW Real Estate Services Group, prove that going green saves green.  Please read the article here – http://www.review.net/section/detail/green-makes-green/

For more information on how to save money and LEED call Bryan Lauer at 813.363.0861.

2B Green World is a consulting firm specializing in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Certification for Existing Buildings, including:

• Office Buildings
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• High-rise apartments/condo’s
• Government Buildings
• Retail Buildings

Benefits:

• Reduce Operating Expenditures (Electric & Water), Increase NOI
• Increase Building Equipment Efficiency and Longevity
• Increase Marketability
• Increase Occupancy Rate (if applicable)
• Increase Rental Rates (if applicable)
• Increase Sales Price
• Implement best management practices
• Increase Recycling Program
• Improve Building Operations
• Improve Indoor Air Quality Environment
• Utilize “Green”, environmentally friendly products

Mission Statement – To service building owners in reducing operating expenses, increasing marketing efforts and improving indoor and outdoor environments creating a healthier/sustainable workplace through LEED Certification.

Vision Statement – Preserve the World, one building at a time.

The following office buildings are past and current LEED EB projects:

These projects represent over 2 million square feet of Class A office space!

We can work on a project anywhere in the World.  How?  Technology.  We only need to visit the site a couple times, if at all!

For more information on LEED Consulting Services for Existing Buildings, please call Bryan Lauer at 813.363.0861 or blauer123@hotmail.com

Do your part to preserve our planet.

I’m going to save about 2-4 gallons every time I shower now that I have a new eco-friendly shower-head.  I could save anywhere from 104 – 208 gallons every year and around $75 – $150/year just by turning the water off when I’m scrubbing down

The average person uses 100 gallons of water every day!  Do your part – save, be sustainable, act green, go green!

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 means that there are many articles about many different subjects that can be searched by using the search bar at the top of the website.  Enjoy!

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.

This article was written by Jack Lundee.

Mother Nature is one of, if not the, most destructive force on the planet and this was never more apparent then on January 12th, 2010 when the small island nation of Haiti was leveled by destructive and crippling earthquake. It is of grave importance that we do our best to take care of the Earth that is home to us all or we may find ourselves with such great natural tragedies as the people of Haiti. This is why the Clinton Global Initiative has taken the necessary steps to ensure a better, safer, and cleaner Earth for all of us with one of their many green initiatives of reducing fleet emissions in San Francisco. Machine behind the initiative, Doug Band, has lead the CGI to the forefront of international aid and philanthropy since its inception in 2005.  Their sights are set on preventing global warming from becoming a complete natural disaster, and this starts in the San Francisco bay area.

The CGI realizes that CO2 emissions that are being discharged into the San Fran atmosphere could be considerably cut down by changing the current route method for San Fran vehicle fleets. Luckily, the CGI has came up with a solution that both makes public service and fuel consumption more efficient in the area. Route optimization can not only help organize work assignments into real street time rather than a grid system, but also can be enhanced to minimize CO2 emissions by suggesting an optimized stop sequence for the fleets rather than leaving it up to the driver alone. This, the CGI feels, will not only help cut emissions in the San Francisco area but will ensure that a place that is very familiar with natural disasters helps prevent an even graver one from occurring.  To learn more about the practice areas of the CGI, including all green efforts, click here

February 8th, 2010

Water your lawn every other week during winter months and monitor site integrity.  Only water lawn when necessary.

The following go-green water-saving tips are taken from various sources including myself.  A couple great references are the US EPA and WaterPilgrim

• Fix leaks immediately!
• Only run dish washer when full
• Take showers not baths
• Buy a 0.5 gallon per minute (gpm) aerators ($5) to retrofit your faucets
• Buy 1.0 gpm shower heads
• Buy Energy Star Washer/Dryer and Dish Washer
• Take short showers and only when needed

Most of the following tips were taken from various sources including myself.  The US EPA website is a good reference as well as this website.  Go Green!

Reduce your Carbon Footprint – don’t drive as much.

• Do not drive as much.  Only drive when necessary.  Turn your car off when waiting.
• Wait to run errands all at one time
• Ask your employer if you can work from home once or twice/week
• Carpool
• Begin purchasing Energy Efficient household items such as:  Light Bulbs, Washer/Dryer, Refrigerator, etc.
• Recycle
• Don’t purchase water bottles, use cups and reuse
• Don’t purchase as much to reduce your waste production

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

This article was written by Chris Thorman.

For years, both commercial and residential property managers have adhered to a fixed set of job responsibilities – collecting rent, coordinating maintenance requests, renewing leases and attracting new residents.

One more job responsibility – managing and forecasting a building’s carbon footprint – should be added, according to Ross Sharman, director of Australia-based Knowledge Global and Oracle Magazine’s 2009 Green IT Architect of the Year.

Sharman and Knowledge Global, a sustainability consultancy, have created a comprehensive, automated environmental monitoring system for buildings called EMMA (Environmental Management Solution). The EMMA system is a solution for property owners and managers who want to measure, track and forecast exactly how much energy a building is using/losing, while simultaneously educating their tenants about their carbon output.

The EMMA system gathers environmental data from a variety of electronic monitors inside and outside of a building. This data is aggregated by a variety of software applications and displayed in a digital user interface. The information provides an ongoing snapshot of the “health” of the building.

Metrics the EMMA system measures and how they are tracked include:

• Gas, water, electricity use, waste and weather information through the monitoring of meters
• Human traffic through security systems and thermal imaging technology similar to what shopping centers use
• Occupant demographics through tenant profiling and human resources
• Building space through floor plans and tenant agreements
• Well-being of occupants through online surveys

There are a handful of services out there that monitor building energy use but none of them modify behavior like the EMMA system does.

The EMMA monitor in the lobby of buildings displays energy use by floor, room and even by tenant. This makes it easy to organize competitions that motivate tenants to reduce the amount of energy they are using.

EMMA’s wireless “eggs” are another visual incentive for reducing tenants’ carbon footprint.  These egg-shaped devices sit throughout a building – in common areas and on each floor, for example – and glow red or green as energy use fluctuates against the optimal forecast. This constant reminder about energy use encourages tenants to use less, or at least, makes them aware of energy use in areas they may have not even thought about before.

You can read more about EMMA here.

Chris Thorman contributed this post. He blogs at Software Advice.“

2010 World Challenge:  Save Water and Energy   d/b/a – Project Preserve

We need to preserve our planet for future generations.

How do you save water and energy?

How to save water:

• Invest in low-flow items or aerators (water-reducing devices – they are cheap) for:  faucets, shower-heads, toilets
• Turn shower off when scrubbing your body with soap.  If you do this every time you take a shower and you take an average of 1.25 showers/day you will save an estimated 1,003.74 gallons/year (2.2gpm flow rate * 1.25*365)! If 10% of America (30.8 million) committed to this challenge we would save thirty billion eight hundred ninety-two million four thousand
• Do not flush the toilet after you pee; wait 1 or 3 other times; this will save an estimated 803 – 2409 gallons/year.  If 10% of America committed to this challenge we would save twenty-four billion seven hundred thirty-two million four hundred thousand to seventy-four billion one hundred ninety-seven million two hundred thousand gallons of water/year.
• Combined water challenges would save $50-150/year for a combined total of one billion five hundred forty million to four billion six hundred twenty million dollars

How to save Energy

• Turn everything off, including A/C, and unplug appliances.  This could save 10% of your electric bill/year or 6.34205796 billion U.S. dollars if 10% of Americans took the 2010 Challenge d/b/a Project Preserve

I am so excited for my first GreenBuild experience in Phoenix this week (11/10/2009 – 11/13/2009)!

• There is going to be an estimated 30,000 people in attendance
• Al Gore is the opening speaker
• Thousands of vendor booths on:  renewable energy, environmentally friendly products and so much more

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…

LEED as we know it has been ever-changing.  In Dec. 2008 I passed the LEED EBv2, the LEED EBOM version came out in Aug. 2008, and now the latest version of Existing Buildings – Green Buildings:  Operations & Maintenance, is out to be used.  I would bet that an updated version comes out by Dec 2010.  Although this can be frustrating, the GBCI and USGBC are making the LEED process easier and improve the program(s).

To find out more about LEED 2009, please visit the GBCI website at www.gbci.org

Think about how your great great grandkids need water and other essentials to live. ..

The average person uses 100 Gallons of water every day!

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that 36 states anticipate some degree of water shortage by 2013!

a faucet with a leakage rate of 1 drip/second wastes around 3,000 gallons of water/year.

DO YOUR PART -

THINK GREEN.  ACT GREEN.  BE GREEN.  GO GREEN.

Now think about how much water and other essentials you waste everyday…

find captivating green facts here – http://www.GoGreenCommercially.com/go-green-facts/

Downtown Tampa’s tallest building just got “taller”

As a result of nearly a year-long team effort by staff personnel of CLW Real Estate Services Group and Sustainable Services, 100 North Tampa, the 42 story, 552,080 sq. ft. office tower in downtown Tampa was recently awarded the United States’ Green Building Council’s LEED-EB (Existing Building) Silver Certification designation.  This prestigious certification is awarded only to those properties that meet numerous, stringent prerequisites and credit requirements established by the non-profit USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification program.

As stated by the USGBC, “The LEED Green Building Rating System for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is a set of performance standards for certifying the operations and maintenance of existing commercial or institutional buildings and high-rise residential buildings of all sizes, both public and private.  The intent is to promote high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound practices in existing buildings.”

Bryan Lauer, LEED AP and Project Manager for the project said, “This 12-month LEED certification process fine-tuned 100 North Tampa’s operations and maintenance, resulting in an even more effective and efficient building for existing and future tenants”.

Cal Buikema, Sr. Property Manager of 100 North Tampa and Project Team Administrator for this LEED certification process added, “We are ecstatic to have achieved this Silver certification designation, as it truly sets 100 North Tampa apart as a leader in practicing ‘green’ building initiatives. 100 North Tampa is now the first Class A office building in Tampa’s central business district to have achieved LEED certification”.

Mr. Buikema further stated, “Typically, LEED Certified buildings save energy, use less water, have better indoor air quality, have expanded material recycling programs, implement green cleaning programs, use more environmentally-friendly products and materials and conduct other innovative operational initiatives adding to enhanced occupant comfort levels. In achieving Silver certification status, 100 North Tampa has demonstrated its high level of participation in all of these practices”.

More detailed information on 100 North Tampa’s achievement can be found on Bryan Lauer’s blog at www.GoGreenCommercially.com and typing in 100 North Tampa in the search bar at the top.

CLW is a full service commercial real estate firm based in Tampa, FL.  To find out more about CLW, visit their website at www.CLWRG.com

Sustainable Services is a consulting firm specializing in LEED Certification for Existing Buildings.  For more information about Sustainable Services call Bryan Lauer at 813.349.8550.

Carrying capacity is the ability to provide the resources required to sustain life while retaining the capacity to regenerate and remain viable.

think about that…

Think green, act green, be green

The following project was completed by Sustainable Services, a boutique LEED Certification company specializing in Existing Buildings.  To inquire on LEED Certifying your building, please contact Bryan Lauer at 813.349.8550 or bblauer@clwrg.com

Tampa’s tallest building just got “taller”

100 North Tampa recently received LEED Silver Certification from the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) on October 19, 2009!  The results come from a year long effort by the staff of CLW Real Estate Services Group, lead by Calvin Buikema, and Sustainable Services, lead by Bryan Lauer, LEED AP.

The LEED (Existing Building) Certification entails all aspects of building management, operations and maintenance.  The LEED process “fine-tuned” building operations and maintenance enabling a more effective and efficient building.

The following are the results of a 12-month process.

Major Highlights

• 9 pre-requisites to qualify for LEED (EBOM) Certification were attempted
• 48 out of 52 Credit points were achieved – a Silver Rating
  • 2 Sustainable Sites (SS)
  • 9 Water Efficiency (WE)
  • 13 Energy & Atmosphere (EA)
  • 7 Materials & Resources (MR)
  • 10 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
  • 7 Innovation in Operation (IO)
• The LEED team implemented no-cost/low-cost energy efficient strategies with very significant projected savings.
• The LEED team has developed an energy-efficient capital improvement plan for lighting retrofits and HVAC improvements.
• With building owner approval, the LEED Team retrofit – 140 toilets, 173 faucets and 14 shower-heads.
• Management improved the cooling tower operation and resulted in saving an estimated 1.1 million gallons of water and $7,300 per year!  The project cost was $11,000.
• Management discontinued irrigating the landscape as the plants are well established and native.  This will save an estimated 26,728 gallons of water per year and average savings of $102 per year over 10 years.
• Increased the property’s recycling program and now track the amount of materials leaving the building (outlined below).  The site generated 311,165 pounds of ongoing consumable waste of which 228,905 pounds (74%) were recycled during our performance period (3/1/09-5/31/09).
• The LEED Team created the following policies/procedures to ensure best management practices and the use of sustainable products:
  • Building Exterior and Hardscape Management Policy
  • Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control, and Landscape Management Policy
  • Sustainable Purchasing Policy (Facility Alterations & Additions)
  • Solid Waste Management Policy (Ongoing Consumables, Durable Goods and Facility Alterations & Additions)
  • Light-bulb Purchasing Policy – to reduce the amount of mercury-containing light bulbs onsite
  • Green Cleaning Policy
  • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management procedures
  • High Performance Cleaning policy
  • Indoor Integrated Pest Management policy
• Management now has the following tracked and documented:
  • Light bulb purchases – to verify our goal of averaging 70 picograms per lumen-hour (mercury) or less
  • Ongoing Consumables – to verify and compare the amounts going to the landfill and amounts being recycled
  • Durable Goods – to verify all durable goods leaving the site are properly disposed of
  • Facility Alterations & Additions – to verify our contractor’s purchase at least 50% sustainable products and divert at least 70% of waste generated during build-outs/improvements
  • Cleaning products – to verify our goal of purchasing at least 90% sustainable products
  • Cleaning Equipment – to verify our goal of purchasing sustainable equipment from now on.  Currently, over 30% of our cleaning equipment is sustainable
  • Pest Management products – to ensure environmentally-friendly products are used within the building
• The LEED Team conducted a Waste Stream Audit to better understand the buildings waste streams.  The results conclude that building occupants, for the most part, properly dispose of “waste”.  (this credit was not earned even though attempted).
• The LEED Team conducted a 10-question Occupant Comfort Survey.  334 building occupants (30.6%) filled out the survey with over 75% either “Neutral”, “Satisfied”, “Mostly Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” on all 10 questions.
• The LEED Team conducted a Custodial Effectiveness Assessment that audited:  office space, restrooms, corridors and lobby.  The average score was 1.18 – nearly perfect with 1 being the best and 5 being the lowest.

In conclusion, the LEED Certification process was a great success.

• The building is running efficiently and effectively
• The building occupants are satisfied
• Management implements best practices
• Vendors are utilizing environmentally-friendly products

For more detailed information, go to www.GoGreenCommercially.com and type in “100 North Tampa” in the websites search-bar at the top right of the site.

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

This article was written by Mark Hannah with the Moffitt Corportation.

Moffitt Corporation is the Global Leader in Gravity Ventilation since 1961.  Gravity ventilation also known as natural ventilation is using physics to allow heat to rise and escape from the building, others also call this process a stack effect.  The problem with many facilities is that there is not an effective process of heat removal.  Moffitt provides several products that allows for ventilation naturally.

Other ventilation companies often use motor-powered fans to relieve the building of heat and smoke.  This is ineffective in more ways than one.  Fans are only able to pull air out that is within one fan diameter.  That means the heat or smoke won’t be moved until it utilizes gravity’s force to rise towards that fan.  Secondly, fan motors add costs and maintenance that natural ventilators do not.  An estimated $400 is spent per horsepower per year.  That means a single five horsepower motor will end up costing $2,000 in operation alone using electricity.  That is if the motor runs perfectly all year and no additional maintenance is required.

Natural Ventilators once installed require no maintenance.  No hazards of maintenance men climbing up to the roof for repair.  These ventilators keep buildings weather tight allowing no rain or snow in.  The ventilators effectively remove heat and smoke providing worker comfort and cleaner air while having a longer life than a fan.

Moffitt provides a whole line of natural ventilators including our continuous relief ventilator, the Labyrinth and the GreenRoo^®.  Moffitt also provides free ventilation design as well as full turn-key solutions from manufacturing of products to project installation.  The benefits as well as savings are endless:

• No energy consumed
• No maintenance
• No sound
• No operational cost
• Long life span

Reduce your carbon footprint by contacting Moffitt today to greatly reduce your ventilation costs.  Call 1-(800) 474-3267 or mhannah@moffitthvac.com.

See us on the web @ www.moffitthvac.com or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/moffitthvac.

This article was written by Michael Hartzog with The Murray Company.

So What Makes Green Construction?

LEED Gold Certified – Tui Marine International Headquarters

The construction process can contribute significantly to achieving points in the LEED rating system.  For the Tui Marine International Headquarters, the strategies used in the construction process were directly responsible for pursuing 14 points, which pushed the project total to 40 points and a LEED Gold certification.  Let’s take a look at these LEED credits and the strategy used to achieve them.

“Construction Activity Pollution Prevention” – The LEED intent is to reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation.  For this project, an erosion and sediment control plan was created and implemented to ensure compliance with the 2003 EPA Construction General Permit.  The plan included providing a silt fence around the construction activities and providing filters around stormwater inlets.

“Fundamental Commissioning and Enhanced Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems” – The LEED intent is to verify that the building’s energy systems are installed, calibrated, and perform according to the owner’s project requirements, basis of design, and construction documents.  For this project, a commissioning authority developed and implemented a commissioning plan for the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.  During construction, the plan was applied to review contractor submittals, verify installation, verify performance, develop a systems manual, and verify systems training.

“Construction Waste Management” – The LEED intent is to divert construction and demolition debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators and redirect reusable materials to appropriate sites.  For this project, 83.9% of the construction debris was sent to a recycling location instead of a landfill.  The recycled construction debris included concrete, asphalt, metal, wood, cardboard, plastic, aluminum cans, and paper.  These materials were selected due to the availability of local recycling stations.  For each material, a separate container was provided for collection and storage until full.  The containers included 20-yard dumpsters, 2-yard dumpsters, and trash cans.  All containers were identified with signage to help workers with placing waste in the correct recycling container.  Once the containers were full, the appropriate recycling company was called to take the materials to the appropriate sites.

“Recycled Content” – The LEED intent is to increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials.  For this project, the materials used in the building contain a total of 15.0% post-consumer recycled content and 21.9% pre-consumer recycled content.  These materials included concrete, rebar, structural steel, bar joists, metal deck, laminate, roof insulation, caulk, aluminum framing, hollow metal window frames, hollow metal door frames, wood doors, door hardware, glass, drywall, metal studs, wall insulation, sound insulation, ceiling grid, ceiling tile, carpet, floor tile, vinyl wall coverings, and toilet accessories.

“Regional Materials” – The LEED intent is to increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation.  For this project, 17.9% of the materials were manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the site.  These materials included concrete, drywall, and landscaping.

“Certified Wood” – The LEED intent is to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.  For this project, 75.3% of the wood products used in the building are certified through the Forest Stewardship Council’s Principles and Criteria.  These wood products included mirror frames and solid core wood doors.

“Construction Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan” – The LEED intent is to reduce indoor air quality problems resulting from the construction process in order to help sustain the comfort and well-being of construction workers and building occupants.  For this project, a Construction IAQ Management Plan was created and implemented during construction to improve the indoor air quality.  The plan included using low-emitting materials, covering all HVAC openings with plastic, placing MERV 8 filters on return air openings, placing MERV 8 filters in HVAC units, using equipment to reduce airborne particulates, using equipment to reduce odors, and using dehumidifiers for moisture control.  The plan also did not allow food, drinks, or smoking in the building.  The plan paid off after construction – and immediately prior to occupancy – as a third party tested and confirmed the concentration levels were acceptable for formaldehyde, particulates (PM-10), total volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide.

“Low-Emitting Materials” – The LEED intent is to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.  For this project, all adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings used in the building met the requirements for VOC levels.  All carpets met the requirements for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus program.  All composite wood and agrifiber products, such as particleboard, plywood, and door cores, used inside the building did not contain added urea-formaldehyde resins.

“LEED Accredited Professional” – The LEED intent is to support and encourage the design integration required by a LEED project and streamline the application and certification process.  For this project, the project manager for the general contractor was a LEED Accredited Professional.

 A letter from Tony Veal, CEO of Office Support Systems headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon addressing ways for companies to save money and become a greener organization. If you are looking for ways to save money while  implementing  sustainable practices,  we have these solutions available  through your ink and toner needs.

 At Office Support Systems we are not just eco-talk, we are taking eco-action! When it comes to helping the environment, not only do we currently help hundreds of organizations recycle over 500,000 cartridges a year but we have gone one more step and created the Go Green Brand Print Cartridge. With this latest innovation we now combine Quality Recycled Products with Green Ideology along with a free recycling program that pays you to recycle your empties! Our Print Cartridges are up to 50% off the cost of manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard, Canon, Epson and Lexmark. Here’s the scoop…

For every green laser toner cartridge purchased we donate One Dollar to AmericanForests.org which in turn, plants one tree. For every green inkjet cartridge purchased we donate Fifty Cents  to  AmericanForests.org

Every dollar we donate plants a tree. Now how cool is that?

Green Rewards Program

Every Laser cartridge you send us earns a One Dollar credit toward future purchases. Every Ink Jet cartridge you send us earns Fifty Cents credit toward future purchases. We pay any and all FedEx freight charges to recycle your empties.

At OSS we are Eco Innovators. Not only does our Go Green Brand  ™  keep excess waste like used cartridges out of our planet’s landfills, but we take it to the next level and a tree is planted  for very cartridge used which creates a healthier and more sustainable environment for all of us.

Coupled with a free recycling program that rewards you is a win, win.

Interested In purchasing Green Cartridges for yourself or your organization? That’s wonderful news! Please Contact us at: www.gogreenbrand.com or 800.375.6816

This article note was written by Cristi with Fat Bottom Bags

Hi!

I saw your request on Twitter for articles or information of green businesses and I thought I’d write you a little note and let you know about what I’m doing to help the environment.

I make FatBottomBags!  They are reusable totes bags and backpacks that I make from “disposable” plastic bags and they were born from my desire to do something positive to help the environment. I was concerned about what to do with the plastic shopping bags that I had at home.

I wanted to find a way to put them to good use and keep them out of the waste stream.

I discovered a technique to use them for crochet projects and developed my own pattern for FatBottomBags!

I started small. First I made several bags for my own use. I got a lot of positive feedback about the bags I was using. People seemed excited by the idea that something useful could be created from this wasted resource!

By using my own reusable bags, I stopped collecting so many of those plastic ones so I began to gather them from friends and neighbors to recycle them. And now I am recycling bags for 15 different families!

I wanted to make a difference for the planet and I am! So far FatBottomBags has saved over 3500 plastic shopping bags from entering the waste stream or worse yet winding up in our oceans.

When we all do our small part we really can change the big picture!

Sincerely,

Christi

www.FatBottomBags.com

This article was written by Keith Johnson.

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