Posts Tagged 'LEED certification'

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.

Residential Buildings and Apartments are Going Greeen Too

Published January 6, 2012 Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment
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Flat Back Rain Barrel. Image Source: Shopping.com

The trend of greening one’s space doesn’t only happen within commercial and industrial buildings, but within residential buildings and apartments as well. In fact, a lot of neighborhoods are starting to invest in other methods of going green, in composting food waste—a trend that used to be foreign and strange for most families a couple of years ago.

For example, in Minneapolis, several neighborhoods now have a chutes in their buildings designed for organic food that will be composted. This is only one of the several green features to be found in residential apartments across the US.

Another example is a roofing system that can deflect the heat of the summer.  Tanks are added to collect rainwater, so that the money paid by residents for storm water management is significantly reduced while water capacity stays the same.

The HVAC and plumbing system is an important aspect of green residential buildings as well. A lot of residential buildings have increased energy efficiency, improved insulation for doors and windows, and appliances that have a high Energy Star rating. Bike racks are commonly installed as more people are learning to use other forms of transport rather than the private automobile.

Granted that there are certain costs for going green such as operational and maintenance expenditures, but the benefits far outweigh them.  In fact, building developers are willing to develop and pay for these expenses upfront as the market is starting to demand environmentally sound and sustainable practices.

The response of residents has thus far been overwhelming. In fact, a lot of people looking for apartments particularly look for green residential buildings. With the chance of reducing electricity and utility costs by as much as 75%, there’s indeed every reason to look for a green residential building!

While LEED certification is the pinnacle of green building, even smaller efforts to cut costs and save the environment can help. The benefits will far outweigh the costs for residential green buildings.

A representative at Norsteel will be happy to offer their assistance on finding an inexpensive, sturdy and sustainable steel building to meet your requirements.

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.

A US National Green Building Code is Underway

Published November 15, 2011 going green 1 Comment
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Green Building. Image Source: Public domain.

A sign that a country is taking sustainable and green construction seriously is if it starts creating legal documents to further its cause. Such is the effort of the International Green Construction Code, which has recently approved a National Green Building Code in the US after two years of research and development. It will apply to all commercial and residential buildings, whether new or renovated, that are at least three stories high.

The National Green Building Code is the first comprehensive law on green construction in the US and covers all key aspects of architectural design, construction, energy use, water efficiency, waste management, and site aspect among others. The Code represents a serious shift in construction standards toward energy conservation and green construction.

While most local governments and states have already expressed their willingness to adopt the code and have in fact done so, it will not be officially published until March 2012.

Construction designers and construction companies are bound to ask: how does the National Green Building Code differ from the LEED? One significant difference is that LEED is voluntary. While a lot of buildings are constructed in consonance with LEED standards, many buildings don’t.

The new code, on the other hand, has mandatory “floors” standards that must be reached by every residential and commercial building that qualifies. LEED and the code don’t have to clash though. By setting “floors”, LEED can set higher standards that will eventually result in buildings being rewarded for exceeding the minimum standards raised by the National Green Building Code. While the code sets the minimum, the LEED represents the ideal.

Among the mandatory requirements of the national code are the disqualifications of the use of greenfields or undeveloped lands for infrastructure, subject to certain exceptions. In terms of materials, 55% of materials must be based on recycled, recyclable, bio-based, or salvaged content. The building must also have a lifespan of at least 6 years. In terms of energy and water efficiency, there are standards for lighting, sub-metering, mechanical systems, demand-response automation, rainwater storage, and graywater systems. There are also elective choices, at least one of which must be chosen by the green building.

LEED 2012: New Changes to the Rating System

Published September 5, 2011 going green Leave a Comment
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BC Cancer Research Centre, a LEED Gold Certified Building. Image Credit: IBI Group, Peter Wilmse & Ivo Talker; Henriquez Partners.

LEED ratings have done great things for environmental awareness. The exclusive, environmentally-conscious building design protocols have helped raise public consciousness about eco-friendly design, efficiency and have inspired beautiful, eco-friendly design projects. That is not to say the system is without its critics. Some industry insiders have complained that LEED points are easy to rack up and difficult to quantify in some convoluted building processes. Another issue is the fact that in many cases, LEED certification is a result of a one-time assessment of a building’s design and construction, with little to no follow-up in the future.

An article recently published on the Fast Company website reports that the LEED system is about to undergo a bit of a transition. Going forward, LEED certification will now reflect how buildings are actually saving energy and water, and they ways they can improve.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization that administers LEED certifications, states that it wants its volunteer members to think of green buildings and LEED certification as assets rather than as items on a list. The revised system, coined LEED 2012, will debut in November, 2011, and will explore the new technologies and energy-efficient building practices that improve a structure’s overall efficiency.

Scot Horst, USGBC’s Senior VP for LEED tells Fast Company that the new system should be considered a “Zagat rating” for buildings.

Using LEED 2012, business owners can track the environmental performance of LEED-certified buildings with new apps from LEED Online. “Faster, cheaper, more automatic” is the new slogan for this new system.

Steel and LEED Buildings

Steel is an environmentally-friendly building material that is often used in LEED-certified buildings. Because it is highly recyclable and helps facilitate energy efficiency, steel makes an easy choice for environmentally-conscious builders. A large percentage of LEED buildings are comprised primarily of steel. Click here to learn more about steel’s environmentally-friendly properties.

Harvard University Receives 50th LEED Certification

Published August 9, 2011 Norsteel Buildings News 1 Comment
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Harvard University is known for forward thinking, especially where the environment is concerned.  Earlier this week the ivy league university was recognized by The Princeton Review as a leader in green innovation. Hailed as one of the “greenest” universities in North America, Harvard received a place on the 2012 Green Rating Honor Roll in addition to reaching the green innovation milestone of having produced 50 LEED certified projects.

Earlier this month the U.S. Green Building Council, in partnership with Harvard University, announced publically announced that Harvard’s campus had achieved 50 LEED certified projects. Included in these projects is more than 1.5 million square feet of usable space which includes labs, dorms, and libraries, among other things.  Even more impressive is the fact that six of the fifty projects achieved LEED Platinum certification – the highest LEED certification available under the USGBC’s LEED Rating System.

Harvard University has no plans of slowing down its eco-friendly construction.   An additional 3 million square feet of space at the university’s sprawling campus is currently under LEED-certified construction.  In total, in excess of 90 Harvard construction projects have some degree of LEED certification.

A recent press release by the U.S. Green Building Council states that “energy models suggest that the 14 LEED new construction projects have delivered more than $1.5 million in energy savings annually and a reduction of more than 4,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCDE) annually, which equates to an average reduction of 34 percent below industry energy standards.”

The LEED projects have been made possible thanks to the tireless effort and support of Harvard staff, many of whom helped the University become a world-class leader in sustainable building practices. Building materials are streamlined for efficiency and highly recyclable, like steel.

 “As a university, we have a special responsibility to confront the challenges of climate change not only through academic research but by transforming the way we operate our campus,” Harvard University president David Faust told the Harvard Gazette.

Harvard Data Knowledge Center. Image Credit: Harvard University.

Click here to learn more about Harvard’s sustainable building practices.

The “Green Bar” Continues to Rise for Building Developers

Published July 4, 2011 going green 1 Comment
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Canada Green Building Council Logo. Image Credit: Canada Green Building Council.

A recent article from the Winnipeg Free Press suggests that building developers who wish to achieve a much-coveted LEED certification on their latest building have a steep hill to climb.

That’s because the qualifications necessary to achieve the prestigious status are extremely rigid and demanding:

“Out of hundreds of Manitoba buildings trying obtain a LEED plaque … only 10 have succeeded so far.

Since 2007, when the former Doer government declared new provincial building projects should strive for LEED certification, the number of successful applicants is zero, according to provincial records obtained through freedom-of-information legislation.”

Supporters of the LEED program say the low approval rate is a direct result of the “popularity of the green-building brand name.”  Critics have argues that the certification process is too slow, demanding and wrought with red tape.  Some have argued that seeking LEED certification is far too expensive – the process can cost $30,000 – $100,000, depending on the size of the structure:

“The process begins with an “integrated design process,” which requires architects and contractors to collaborate on almost every aspect of the tendering and construction.

Once the new building or renovation project is complete, the designers exchange paperwork with the Canada Green Building Council, which has offices in Ottawa and Vancouver and appoints adjudication teams in other cities.

Rather than simply measuring energy efficiency, the council awards points toward LEED certification by using a checklist that also takes into account a multitude of factors, including building materials and the commuting habits of green-building occupants.”

LEED, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2000 and spread to other jurisdictions including Canada.  It is an internationally-recognized, environmentally-friendly building certification system that scores buildings out of a possible score of 100, in addition to 6 additional points for design innovation.

Steel is a popular building material found in many LEED-certified buildings, due to its flexibility, heating and cooling properties, and its ability to be recycled.

Learning About LEED

Published June 15, 2011 going green Leave a Comment
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LEED banner. Image Credit: U.S. Green Building Council.

Here at the Norsteel blog, we talk a lot about LEED buildings and LEED certification.  So what exactly is LEED anyway? And what exactly does it do? Here’s a bit of a LEED primer.  We hope you find it useful!

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2000.  It is an internationally-recognized, environmentally-friendly building certification system.

LEED buildings are constructed with a strict adherence to sustainable design codes and can be applied to commercial and residential buildings.  To date, over 9.7 billion square feet of construction space has been LEED certified in more than 120 countries. Additionally, nearly 10,000 homes have also been certified and nearly 30,000 homes have been registered under the LEED Home Rating System.

The LEED rating system is scored on a possible 100 points, as well as 6 additional points for design innovation.  There are four levels of certification, with “Certified” being the lowest and “Platinum” the highest.  A LEED “Certified” building has scored 40-49 points, while a “Platinum” building has a score of 80 points or above – at present, there are only four platinum-rated building in North America – one in Canada and three in the United States.

LEED rating systems are set and evaluated by LEED committees which are comprised of a group of volunteers from the building and construction industry.  LEED rating systems are not the same across the board.  According to the USGBC, the available LEED systems include:

  • LEED for New Construction (NC)
  • LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB: O&M)
  • LEED for Commercial Interiors (CI)
  • LEED for Core & Shell (CS)
  • LEED for Schools (SCH)
  • LEED for Retail
  • LEED for Healthcare (HC)
  • LEED for Homes
  • LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND)

Each rating system uses a different rating system specific to the type of building.  For more information on the LEED, visit USGBC.org.

Ottawa Convention Centre Goes Green

Published May 2, 2011 going green Leave a Comment
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Ottawa Convention Centre Conceptual Drawing. Image Credit: GBA Associates.

The Ottawa Convention Centre is boasting a bold, beautiful and modern new look – complete with environmentally-friendly upgrades.

The 192,000 sq, ft. building, which is built on the site of the former Ottawa Congress Centre downtown, offers 28 beautifully-designed, fully configurable meeting spaces as well as 56,000 sq. ft. that can host 6,260 people theatre-style and 4,600 banquet-style.  Comprised largely or recycled materials and organic compounds, the facility uses special plumbing systems to regulate and reduce water consumption.

The new design makes use of natural light and provides a magnificent view of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal from its 7-storey high windows.  The decision to go “green” was made by the Board of Directors to demonstrate a commitment to “environmental performance and leadership” and to “doing what is right for the future of the planet.”

According to the Ottawa Convention Centre’s official website, the building “became Canada’s first Founding Industry Member of the International Convene Green Alliance (CGA), a grass-roots industry initiative spearheaded by several high profile associations from around the world that aspire to positive environmental practices.”

The Centre has implemented a “comprehensive waste management program” as well as innovations designed to ensure that the building provides an environmentally-friendly experience for all of its guests which are expected to number in the hundreds of thousands this year alone.

Some of the Centre’s other green initiatives include:

-       The use of recycled steel trusses salvaged from the original congress centre.

-       Building practices that are aligned with LEED Silver status requirements (which it is currently in the process of applying for).

-       Rainwater collection cisterns which are used to flush toilets and urinals.

-       A large recycling room complete with a composting site.

-       A landfill waste diversion target in excess of 90 percent.

-       Lighting systems designed to be up to 25 percent more efficient than minimum building requirements.

-       Efficient HVAC systems to regulate air distribution throughout the building.

Two U.S. Hospitals Earn LEED Certification

Published April 14, 2011 going green Leave a Comment
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Jordan Valley Community Health Centre. Image Source: World Interior Design Network.

Two Illinois hospitals – the Jordan Valley Community Health Centre in Springfield and the Hillsboro Area Hospital in Hillsboro – have earned LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.

Both construction projects were overseen by Vertegy, a St. Louis-based company, with Alberici Constructors acting as the general contractor.

Jordan Valley was originally designed by the Lawrence Group.  A recent renovation of the 72,000 sq. ft. building was completed which incorporated a bevy of sustainability measures.

Environmentally-conscious interior finishes were implemented into the building, as well as a specialized insulating glass.  The building also contains a specialized roof designed to decrease “heat island” effects in the area, water-efficient flush closets and urinals, and an eco-friendly revamp of the building’s energy distribution systems which resulted in energy savings of approximately 28%.  Ninety-two percent of the structure was recycled and/or re-purposed during the renovation project and sixty percent of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill.  “Green cleaning” maintenance procedures were also implemented.

The Hillsboro Area Hospital is a 22,700 square foot building which recently incorporated high albedo paving surfaces to decrease “heat island” effects and dual-flush toilets.  It also features vegetated open-areas and refrigerants were specially selected with ozone sustainability in mind and preferred parking spots for carpoolers and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Click here to learn more about the hospital’s sustainability features and here to learn about green buildings.

LEED Certification Rating Systems

The LEED rating system is scored on a possible 100 points, as well as 6 additional points for design innovation.  There are four levels of certification, with “Certified” being the lowest and “Platinum” the highest.  A LEED “Certified” building has scored 40-49 points, while a “Platinum” building has a score of 80 points or above – at present, there are only four platinum-rated building in North America – one in Canada and three in the United States.

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