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LEED 2009 Brings Changes
12/01/09
LEED 2009 To Bring Changes
By Justin Swanson, LEED AP®
Project Manager, Frank L. Blum Construction Company
Board Member, Triad chapter U.S. Green Building Council
In the last two years it has become fashionable for individuals, organizations and even cities to say they are “going green.” People use this term for everything from recycling newspapers at their offices to installing energy-efficient appliances in their homes.
Yet relatively few companies and organizations venture down the path of obtaining official LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Since the U.S. Green Building Council introduced the LEED rating system in 2000, owners of more than 1,500 buildings across the United States have received the designation, and about 11,000 more are seeking it. But this is only the tip of the iceberg when you consider the hundreds of thousands of new buildings constructed each year, not to mention the millions of buildings already in existence.
Given that buildings account for 39 percent of CO2 emissions in the United States, the USGBC recognized that slow, incremental acceptance of LEED was not enough to make a significant dent in environmental impact. In January, the USGBC will unveil LEED 2009, an updated version that aims to correct some of the flaws in the previous system and encourage more owners and developers to seek the designation. LEED 2009 will also address how existing buildings can receive the designation.
Among the changes in LEED 2009 are:
§ Rewarding points to items according to how much energy they will save or environmental impacts they will reduce. Under the current system, installing a bike rack gets one point – the same as installing a costly HVAC system, for example. With LEED 2009, the latter would receive many more points.
§ Enhancing the water-use rating system to better reflect new technology. The current system rewards a point for a 20-percent reduction in potable water use; under LEED 2009, this will become a prerequisite, and buildings would have to achieve at least a 30-percent reduction in order to earn points.
§ Giving bonus points for projects that meet environmental priorities in their particular regions. For example, LEED 2009 will give more points for water efficiency to a new building in a drought-prone area than one in a region where water is plentiful. In another city where land preservation is an issue, a project would receive extra points for building on an existing footprint instead of previously undeveloped land.
§ Establishing a clear, easy to understand, 100-point system. In order to obtain the “certified” (basic) designation, a new construction project will need 40 points; the silver designation will require 50 points; gold 60 points and platinum 80 points. Under the current system, the maximum for new construction is 69 points, and the certified designation is awarded for 26 points.
Not included in LEED 2009, but under discussion for 2010, is a proposal that LEED buildings pass periodic tests to ensure they continue eco-friendly practices after they have received a LEED designation.
Like most policies and recommendations of great importance, LEED will continue to be a work in progress, driven by experts in the field as well as the general public. One thing is certain, however: the USGBC and LEED have already dramatically enhanced our awareness and enthusiasm for preserving our natural resources.
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| This letter is to express my sincere gratitude to Blum Construction for performing the emergency shoring of an EIFS wall system that failed on the southern exterior of the Integon Towers Complex.
The EIFS Wall was installed about a year ago and recently began to pull loose from the structural masonry wall, leaving a gap of up to five feet. This failure posed a serious threat to pedestrian safety, not to mention additional property damage.
Because the contractor who installed the wall decided not to provide the shoring, I contacted Mark Gill. Within two to three hours, Mark had men and equipment on site and completed the shoring process by 5:00 p.m.
It is unfortunate that not all contractors are as responsive as Blum, but I suppose that is why we place so much confidence in Blum. We know you will get the job done! |
David S. Miner
Property Manager
RM Realty Group for Integon/now GMAC |
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