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Report Outlines Green Incentives for Building Owners and Governments

Published March 5, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Source: Norsteel Building.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently published a report entitled Green Building Incentive Trends: Strengthening Communities, Building Green Economies. The guidebook outlines the steps local governments have to make in order to further the construction of green buildings. The primary thrust of the guidebook is to recommend “green incentives” that will inspire construction firms and building owners to invest more on green buildings.

For the private sector, the report indicates that among the best incentives are density bonuses, tax breaks, and expedited permitting. Density bonuses and tax breaks provide a direct financial incentive to companies putting up green businesses.

When a building owner has a positive green building rating, they are allowed higher densities, more floor/area ratio and increases in height. Tax breaks are given to building owners as long as they conform to certain government-approved green construction practices. In addition to this, expedited permitting means that companies can speed up the process of putting up their own building as well as getting around certain rules without unnecessary interference from the government.

However, local governments should by no means impose green incentives excessively as it is costly to grant developer bonuses. While green building does benefit everyone in the long run, incentives should be given depending on the financial situation and the projected impact to the building industry.  Governments must have a sustainable economic plan in order to strategically motivate the construction of green buildings.

The most important factor for an effective policy related to green construction is to make it simple to the public and easy to implement. To avoid confusions and unnecessary delay, the policy must clearly present the direct benefits to building owners.

The report comes at a time when green construction is at its peak and local governments can give enough encouragement for building owners to step up to the challenge.

Norsteel is the kind of building company that can help to facilitate the green building process. Talk to us about an environmentally sound pre-fabricated steel building.

Green Parking Solutions to Complement your Green Building

Published February 20, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Reserved Parking for Hybrid Vehicles. Image Credit: Trendhunter.

Having a green prefab steel building is nice, but you do not want to forget other aspects of green construction that are just as important in pursuing environmental awareness. The last thing you want is to have a green building that saves electricity and water costs but is offset by other aspects of your construction—like parking. Norsteel is a fierce advocate of green construction that helps you lessen your utility costs and promoting environmentalism.

Green and environmentally friendly parking solutions are one of the ways by which you can make your green building more sustainable. The International Parking Institute (IPI) recently published the Framework on Sustainability for Parking Design, Management and Operations—a framework that establishes how to provide sustainable parking solutions to its members.

The IPI, with a goal of reflecting balance between the reduction of adverse environmental impacts and societal health and welfare, advocates alternative energy sources and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. It also suggests a variety of multi-modal transportation options and effective natural resource management. Waste reduction strategies when it comes to parking and transportation are also highlighted in its report.

One particular trend that the report highlighted on is the use of electric charging stations in parking spaces. Because of the rise of hybrid vehicles, owners are in constant need of charging stations that are unfortunately often located too far in between.

In its report, IPI has several options that will allow commercial real estate businessmen to accommodate electric and hybrid vehicle charging stations in its parking spaces. This is especially important for major industries such as retail, hotel and multifamily businesses.

Parking solutions may sound insignificant and inconsequential, but it is actually a matter that can help create a more sustainable way of living. This is a point that we, at Norsteel understand, as we believe that green construction must take into account all aspects of sustainability and reduction of environmental impact.

Green Construction Getting Even Better

Published February 17, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Construction Vehicle. Image Source: Public domain.

Although several construction companies are still skeptical about the impact and popularity of green construction, a recent survey by the McGraw-Hill Construction shows the impact of green construction. A particular industry that has benefited most from the benefits of green buildings is residential construction. In 2011, green construction in residential houses made up 17$ of the total work by cost. A five-fold increase is expected in the next four years, so that by 2016, green construction will make up about ¼ of residential houses.

Other details in the report are also most enlightening. For one, green construction costs have declined. Well known is the fact that green construction will help curb utility costs, but that the cost of investing in a green building can strain the pocket. However, this no longer holds true, as the upfront investment for a green building have come down—which means that building owners get to recoup the cost of their building faster and reap the benefits as well. Do not forget that energy costs constantly escalate too, so the long-term benefits of green construction is unquestionable.

Another finding reflected in the report is that the primary motivators for putting up green buildings are not environmentally driven. Rather, better indoor quality and better savings are the major reasons for turning to green residential buildings. These two reasons are more than enough for building owners to spend a little extra for them.

The report also highlighted the fact that green retro-fitting is becoming a major trend. For current building owners who cannot afford to tear down their buildings, remodeling the ones they have to fit green building standards is the best option. In fact, homeowners are willing to spend as much as 5% more for retro-fitting.

With the government catching up on legislation to fit to green standards, there need be no doubt as to the emphasis green construction will ultimately have in the industry.

If you are looking for a pre-fabricated environmentally conscious steel building, contact Norsteel for more information.

Four Myths About Green Buildings… Busted!

Published January 31, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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It is quite clear that green buildings are here to stay. Unfortunately, many construction firms still do not and will not understand the wisdom behind green buildings. Because of misinformation or lack of information, people tend to get confused as to what exactly is the real deal about green buildings. Well, here are some myths about green buildings that you have to stop believing in—from no less than one of the pioneers in green buildings, Norsteel Buildings.

Myth # 1 Green buildings are costly.

There are several high-profile and expensive green building project contractors—in the same way that there are several construction firms that charge a variety of fees for construction projects. There are plenty of firms that offer viable and inexpensive green building solutions that are right for your budget, whether you are a residential building or commercial building owner.

Myth # 2 Green building is only a matter of selecting the right materials.

Just because you reused recycled materials with low energy and no VOCs does not mean that you already own a green building. There are several considerations for a green building to be called such—from the selection of the site to waste reduction.

Myth #3 Green buildings do not save energy.

Another myth thrown around about green buildings is that they do not really save energy and water at the end of the day. Actually, the performance of green buildings will speak for itself. As much as 60% energy reduction is reported by buildings with a green design.

Myth #4: Green products have to be imported and are rare.

This is not exactly true. For example, Norsteel will be not run out of green products for your building anytime soon.. There are a growing number of sources for green products, so there is no need to worry that the construction will be stalled halfway through.

Home Improvement Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Building

Published January 27, 2012 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , going green , Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment

Looking for ways to make your building more eco-friendly? While renovating every now and then is a good idea for a fresh look, you will also be adding value to your home/building. See below for tips on renovating your home to make it more environmentally friendly.

The first thing we look at is roofing. The best way to make this environmentally friendly is to add solar panels. Basically solar panels are put on your roof in the sun and will collect power without adding any fuel or replacing work out parts.  These panels are very popular, modern, green, and used almost everywhere. You might also want to change your roof colour, research indicates that roof colour and the type of material used can help to lower attic temperatures. If you decide to re-roof, consider lighter tiles such as white over the standard shingle roofs and this will reduce heat gain to your attic.

Another great idea is to replace all light bulbs in your building with compact fluorescent ones. Energy-smart bulbs use 70-75% less energy than the incandescent kind and last up to ten times longer! This is just a simple tip but can save you $59 dollars on energy costs over the life of the bulb, which can be anywhere from five to seven years. Also, installing motion detectors outside your home rather than leaving outdoor lighting on all night which will only waste energy, money and disturb wildlife.

One of the most important tips here is do not waste water.  Always check for leaky faucets and get them fixed if you notice a leak as soon as possible. When doing laundry, try to use cold water as much as you can. Also set a good example for your children by teaching them to turn off water while they brush their teeth. Installing low flow showerheads will cut down on water usage and save energy costs.

When heating and cooling your home, invest in a high-efficiency HVAC system that is Energy Star certified and install it in your home. This will reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted and will shave your utility bill.  Look for a product with a higher SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio). This means that the product meets strict government criteria necessary to be deemed “energy efficient.” The standard is 13 SEER, but many heating and air conditioning products have a rating as high as 18 SEER.  Also, cleaning out your air conditioner filters and replacing them regularly will help to reduce costs. If you are not in your home, adjust the thermostat to accommodate the changing temperatures outside.

Finally, another good tip is to install more fans in your home. Ceiling fans can help reduce your family’s dependence on air condition during the hot summer months. In winter, they push heat down from the ceiling.

For more information on home improvement tips on making your building more eco-friendly, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

Source: http://www.toolbarn.com/blog/post/view/identifier/tips-to-be-green/

Green Building Trends for 2012

Published January 23, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Leaves. Image Source: Public domain.

After identifying the primary discussions on green construction, urban awareness, and environmental consciousness among varied sectors (architects, developers, policymakers, appraisers, lenders, builders, homeowners, etc.), the Earth Advantage Institute, a nonprofit green construction organization has identified the top ten green building trends for 2012:

1. Higher Urban Density. Empty nesters and yuppies will be moving in to the city and building laneway homes (similar to a carriage house behind the main house) and accessory dwelling units this coming year. The reason? A sustainable lifestyle and closeness to big city opportunities.

2. Green multifamily homes. An increase in multifamily building certifications is another trend, especially in progressive areas.

3. Home remodels. Many families will also be looking into remodeling their homes to make them much more energy-efficient.

4. Testing of new green materials. Engineers and architects are reluctant to use these new materials right now, but more testing can only contribute to the development and refinement of environmentally friendly technologies.

5. Energy tracking devices. Environmentally consciousness homeowners are increasingly willing to use energy trackers to assess the performance of appliances.

6. Energy education for commercial establishments. By this year, companies will realize the benefits of saving energy.

7. Transparency in marketing. Construction firms and real estate professionals will be compelled to disclose the merits of what they are building and selling. This is a commitment that Norsteel has always done.

8. Valuable and accurate appraisals. With the increasing number of appraisers, it will be a lot easier for buyers and sellers to know the precise value of a green building.

9. Adoption of residential energy ratings for homeowners. With the release of the Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score, it will be easier for homeowners to compare their energy use to others in the same building category and area.

10. Smart grid-compatible high-performance houses. Homeowners will now be able to monitor and control their electricity usage, all through a remote command.

Self-Storage Buildings Can Be Green Too!

Published January 17, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Commercial buildings, residential apartments, and hotels have been spearheading the road towards energy-efficient green buildings. We’ve seen drastic developments in these industries, but what’s the next big thing in green building?

Believe it or not, self storage facilities are have quietly but decidedly moving towards environmental awareness and energy efficiency. If you’re an owner of a storage facility yourself, here are a few tips that might help you lessen the costs of maintaining your business.

Use prefab steel buildings.

Prefab buildings are easy enough to set up, and make the best storage facilities. Storage facilities that are expanding opt for steel prefab buildings, because of its space-saving and energy-efficient qualities. Not to mention that they are easily customizable.

Have a natural garden area to purify runoff water.

Your storage facility can learn from Big Yellow Self Storage in Bromley, London. The business received an Environmental Award for having created garden areas so the runoff water will get naturally purified. This is much better than letting the toxic water go straight to the sewer system.

Replace lighting with fluorescent bulbs.

If you cannot invest on solar panels, you can instead replace your current lighting with fluorescent bulbs. They eat up much less electricity and will even give a laid back retro vibe to the storage rooms of your customers. Another option is to use motion-sensor light bulbs to save energy. This will also save your customers and staff from having to turn on and off the light constantly.

Set-up facilities using recycled materials.

Several storage facilities have gone the extra mile and built facilities made of recycled and reusable materials. This may take a bit of effort, but it is well worth it because the facility will not only be cheaper to put up, but also cheaper to maintain.

Pre-fabricated steel buildings have always been more green than other alternatives, but have only now been associated with the popularity of environmental building practices. And with innovations in building accessories, these buildings will be even more environmentally sound.

Nisku Building. Image Credit: Norsteel Buildings.

Understanding the LEED Rating Systems

Published January 9, 2012 going green Leave a Comment
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Logo. Canada Green Building Council.

If you’re planning to have your building LEED-certified, you first have to know in which specific LEED category your building falls under. Each category has specific prerequisites and a requisite number of points required in order to qualify.

  1. New Construction and Major Renovations (NC+MR) applies to major renovation projects and new buildings—particularly to institutional buildings and high-rise residential buildings, whether private or public.
  2. Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EB: O&M) refers to the certification of ongoing operations of existing commercial and institutional buildings. This covers offices, retail and service establishments, institutional buildings, hotels and 4-storey residential buildings.
  3. Commercial Interiors (CI) refers to tenant spaces in office, retail and institutional buildings for owners or lesser.
  4. Core and Shell Development (CS) is for developers who control the shell base building and entire core, but has no control over the design and construction of the tenant fit-out.
  5. Schools, New Construction and Major Renovations (SCH) refer to the certification of new school buildings and renovations of existing ones.
  6. Retail, New Construction and Commercial Interiors (Retail NC & Retail CI) is for all retail buildings and for tenant spaces in retail buildings.
  7. Healthcare (HC) is for inpatient and outpatient care facilities and licensed long term care facilities. This also applies for medical offices, medical education and research centers, and assisted living facilities. If the renovation is not significant, then they can fall under the LEED EB: O&M category.
  8. Homes, obviously, refers to the mainstream homebuilding industry. Homeowners can refer to a LEED for Homes specialist who can help in designing a home that’s in tune with the LEED rating system.
  9. Neighborhood Development (ND), unlike the 8 categories, refers to entire neighborhoods and groups of buildings. Single-use neighborhoods can apply for a certification.

Norsteel can offer several Energy Star® certified products, and help you obtain sustainable design and LEED certification in some of the aforementioned categories.

LEED Milestone!

Published December 31, 2011 going green Leave a Comment
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The US Green Building Council just reported that the total LEED-certified square footage for existing buildings in the US has officially exceeded the square footage for new construction. This is a milestone for LEED.

The total size of existing commercial buildings in the US has reached 60 billion square feet. In the past, most of these had consumed enormous amounts of energy and water. USGBC, however, has made it a point to curb the exorbitant consumption of existing commercial buildings.

USGBC with its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating and assessment system, has launched the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. Otherwise known as LEED-EBOM, the program was only launched in 2008. Yet, the response of existing commercial building owners and managers has been overwhelming.

In three years, the certifications under LEED-EBOM have caught up with certifications for newly constructed commercial buildings. This month, the total square footage under LEED-EBOM has finally exceeded that under LEED-NC, or certifications under new construction. The difference is around 15 million square feet, as 640 million square feet of certified existing commercial buildings exist, while new construction amounts to 625 million feet.

Around 1.675 billion square feet of all buildings are already LEED-certified. In early 2010, LEED certified buildings have passed the 1 billion mark—and in a little less than a year, the size has almost doubled. By 2012, around 2 billion square feet of buildings is estimated to be LEED-certified. Such is the influential growth of LEED-certified buildings.

A few existing commercial buildings that have been LEED-certified by retrofitting are the Empire State building, the Taipei 101, and the Transamerica Pyramid. Among these three, the Transamerica Pyramid has reached the highest level of LEED-certification with a Platinum status.

What this means is that newly constructed buildings should catch up with existing buildings in terms of LEED certification. For high-grade quality green buildings, Norsteel is the obvious choice.

Green Hotels

Published December 22, 2011 going green 2 Comments
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Green living. Image Source: Plus Point Magazine.

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has released information on how hotel businesses can manage to stay afloat by operating on green buildingsin order to cut costs and market themselves in an eco-friendly way. By facilitating green hotels, this means:

  1. Sustainability of the site. The site on which the building will be built must be sustainable in the first place. This involves open or reflective grid paving, access to convenient public transportation, bicycle storage, and the use of green space.
  2. Water efficiency and conservation. As much as 20% of water can be saved by using waterless urinals, efficient landscaping, and excellently made plumbing fixtures.
  3. Atmosphere and Energy. Using photovoltaic roof panels, geothermal systems, Energy Star appliances, rooftop solar water hearing system, and heat pumps are a few ways to facilitate a positive energy flow throughout the building.
  4. Excellent lighting and indoor quality. This takes into account the coating, painting, and lighting of the hotel. All these will make the hotel breathable for both the hotel staff and your guests.
  5. Use of environmentally safe materials. Using recyclable and reused materials, as well as locally produced raw materials, will ensure a high credit rating.
  6. Innovation in the hotel business. By being a model to the industry, a hotel can get extra points. This calls for a utilization of the hotel’s creative juices. A few examples include educating the hotel staff and encouraging guests to conserve energy, among others.

The roadmap to green buildings for hotels is rather straightforward, but in no way an easy one. The hard work, however, will pay off, once a LEED certification is awarded by the USGBC. In order to do this, two central aspects of a hotel business are evaluated: the building process and the day-to-day operations.

For LEED certification, there are four levels: certified, silver, gold, platinum. In order to be certified, a hotel must be able to have around 40 over 100 points. There are six credit categories to get a LEED certification.

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