The Fourth Annual Green Building Survey, published by Allen Matkins, CTG, and Green Building Insider, was just released. It’s quick and to the point with some interesting perspective on the attitude of design and construction professionals. That is, green construction and design remains a top priority, while LEED certification may not necessarily carry the same weight. The survey was conducted in February 2010 and received over 1,600 responses.
When asked whether it is worth the time and effort to build projects green? Or, to obtain LEED certification?
The survey found that 92.3% agree that it is worth the time and effort to build green, while only 61.7% feel it is worth the time and effort to obtain LEED certification. This response shows an increasing gap in sentiment between building green and obtaining certification for the same. The authors explain that the gap could be caused by current economic conditions, the proliferation of other green building standards, or greener minimum code standards.
When asked about the importance of various factors in building green projects:
The survey found that the top reason for building green was to save energy and other operating costs. The next best factor was to improve the environment, while factors such as achieving higher rents and improving tenant productivity were important, but not as important as other factors.
When asked about the likelihood of incorporating energy saving elements in future projects:
The survey found that 88% of respondents said they were more likely to incorporate energy saving elements going forward, representing a 14% increase of last year’s survey conducted by the same group.
And, for those respondents that had actually helped to build and certify a LEED-NC project to the Gold level, when asked about the cost premium to achieve LEED Gold certification:
The survey found that 51% of respondents believed the cost premium to be greater than 4%, while 30% of respondents believed the cost premium to be somewhere less than 3%. Also, respondents seem to agree that obtaining Gold certification for existing buildings would be more expensive than for new construction.
The Green Building Survey also includes some additional survey detail on carbon credits and offsets, green leases, and green development risks, which is good to know.
February figures on premises for sale or rent for show a 3% improvement on previous month
61% of commercial properties on market lack EPCs from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159809&c=1 ]]>Housing minister to invest £10m in improving skills, back second wave of eco-towns and overhaul three planning policies
Healey reveals green revamp for planning rules from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159596&c=1 ]]>Office development in Kent is thought to be the first to achieve Passivhaus standards
Images: England's first Passivhaus office from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159544&c=1 ]]>Government gives go-ahead for Japanese Knotweed's natural predator to be released into the UK
Knotweed under attack as biologists release killer beetles from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159510&c=1 ]]>Government efforts to encourage motorists to buy greener cars are proving so successful they are raising concerns that tax breaks for cleaner vehicles may have to be re-jigged.
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Pro-whaling officials have reacted angrily to news that a documentary about a gruesome annual dolphin cull in a remote Japanese fishing town has bagged an Academy Award.
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Building goes on site at London's tallest residential tower, nicknamed 'the razor', and finds out about the challenges created it three integrated wind turbines
First images: Brookfield's Elephant & Castle tower takes shape from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159501&c=1 ]]>Sunday Times says 60,000 heating engineers are interested in fitting renewable energy devices but are put off by the three-year certification process
Lack of engineers could scupper renewables revolution from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159451&c=1 ]]>First building to be awarded post-construction 'Outstanding' rating heads green heroes at Ecobuild ceremony
Defra's Lion House triumphs at BREEAM awards from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159198&c=1 ]]>
Yesterday, President Obama toured a training facility at Savannah Technical College and took the opportunity to outline more detail on the proposed HOMESTAR Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program. The program has been called "Cash for Caulkers" due to similarities with Cash for Clunkers, but we're going to stick with the HOMESTAR terminology. Here's some additional detail.
The HOMESTAR program, first and foremost, has been designed to help three groups at the same time. It'll help homeowners improve their real property and use less energy. It'll help construction workers find projects and employment. It'll help manufacturers and vendors sell green products.
Rebates Direct to Consumers:
According to a HOMESTAR fact sheet just released by the White House, rebates will be provided to consumers at the moment of purchase. Manufacturers, dealers, chains, and professionals could market programs to consumers and receive a reimbursement from the federal government.
Silver Star Rebates:
Consumers opting for simple upgrades, such as insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing, and doors, would be eligible for a 50% rebate up to $1,000 - $1,500. Using a combination of rebates, consumers could receive a maximum of $3,000 per home. The program would focus on products made primarily in the U.S. that are installed by certified contractors.
Gold Star Rebates:
Consumers opting for a more comprehensive overhaul would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate on a whole house energy audit and retrofit designed to achieve 20% energy savings. Additional rebates would be available for energy savings in excess of 20%.
Quality Control and Oversight:
No only would certified installers complete upgrades and retrofits, but independent quality assurance providers (with state oversight) would conduct audits to ensure proper completion and installation of required products and retrofits.
According to the Office of the Press Secretary, HOMESTAR could create thousands of jobs while simultaneously helping people reduce their use of energy. In fact, program consumers should expect to save something in the ballpark of $200-$500 per year in energy costs as a result of upgrades and retrofits. But remember, HOMESTAR is only a proposal at this point in time.
[+] Read the Proposed HOMESTAR Program Fact Sheet (as of 3/2/2010).
Photo credit: Chuck Kennedy, White House.
President Obama Explains Proposed HOMESTAR Retrofit Program from www.jetsongreen.com/2010/03/homestar-home-retrofit-program-obama.html ]]>Green body's manifesto backs manditory refurb of worst performing non-domestic buildings
UKGBC: Buildings must be forced to improve efficiency from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159177&c=1 ]]>Forum will host debates, shared experiences and advice on the green building standard
Building launches Passivhaus discussion group from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159132&c=1 ]]>Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy aims to cut emissions from UK homes by 29% in 10 years
Government unveils plans to green existing homes from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159118&c=1 ]]>
Yesterday, President Obama toured a training facility at Savannah Technical College and took the opportunity to outline more detail on the proposed HOMESTAR Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program. The program has been called "Cash for Caulkers" due to similarities with Cash for Clunkers, but we're going to stick with the HOMESTAR terminology. Here's some additional detail.
The HOMESTAR program, first and foremost, has been designed to help three groups at the same time. It'll help homeowners improve their real property and use less energy. It'll help construction workers find projects and employment. It'll help manufacturers and vendors sell green products.
Rebates Direct to Consumers:
According to a HOMESTAR fact sheet just released by the White House, rebates will be provided to consumers at the moment of purchase. Manufacturers, dealers, chains, and professionals could market programs to consumers and receive a reimbursement from the federal government.
Silver Star Rebates:
Consumers opting for simple upgrades, such as insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing, and doors, would be eligible for a 50% rebate up to $1,000 - $1,500. Using a combination of rebates, consumers could receive a maximum of $3,000 per home. The program would focus on products made primarily in the U.S. that are installed by certified contractors.
Gold Star Rebates:
Consumers opting for a more comprehensive overhaul would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate on a whole house energy audit and retrofit designed to achieve 20% energy savings. Additional rebates would be available for energy savings in excess of 20%.
Quality Control and Oversight:
No only would certified installers complete upgrades and retrofits, but independent quality assurance providers (with state oversight) would conduct audits to ensure proper completion and installation of required products and retrofits.
According to the Office of the Press Secretary, HOMESTAR could create thousands of jobs while simultaneously helping people reduce their use of energy. In fact, program consumers should expect to save something in the ballpark of $200-$500 per year in energy costs as a result of upgrades and retrofits. But remember, HOMESTAR is only a proposal at this point in time.
[+] Read the Proposed HOMESTAR Program Fact Sheet (as of 3/2/2010).
Photo credit: Chuck Kennedy, White House.
Discussion forum offers opportunity to put your opinions to policymakers
Building seeks views on Code for Sustainable Homes from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3159084&c=1 ]]>
A few weeks ago, we mentioned the strong flat pack prefabs designed by Andrés Duany for Haiti. That effort is moving forward, and we've been able to catch a photo of a built prototype (see above). InnoVida Holdings, LLC, manufacturer of the lightweight fiber composite panels used to build the prototype, today announced plans to build a factory near Port-au-Prince and donate 1,000 of these houses to Haiti. It's a massive endeavor that could lead to the production of 10,000 homes per year and 250 direct jobs in the country.
The manufacturer has several different housing solutions, although this Andrés Duany cabin -- Le Cabanon -- is about 160 square feet and sleeps eight. With InnoVida Panels, Le Cabanon can be built in a few days with no heavy equipment.
According to The Miami Herald, which has a video showing NBA star center Alonzo Mourning comfortably standing inside one of these structures, each Haiti Cabin will cost about $3,000 to $4,000 to build.
InnoVida says the fiber composite panel used to build these homes is waterproof and mold- and insect-resistant. It's also fire-resistant and hurricane tested and approved for winds up to 156 mph. The 2.5-inch wall panel has an R-value of 14.6, while the 4-inch wall panel has an R-value of 23.7.
With these numbers, the panel might just catch on in energy-efficient home building circles here in the U.S. What do you think?
[+] Learn more about these Haiti housing solutions.
Media credits: © InnoVida Holdings, LLC.
Update: Duany Flat Pack Haiti Cabins from www.jetsongreen.com/2010/02/andres-duany-flat-pack-prefabs-haiti.html ]]>If you had the chance to catch 60 Minutes on Sunday, you saw their exclusive on Bloom Energy. The company has been in stealth mode for some time, but all of that appears to be over. As reported by Lesley Stahl, which you can view in the video embedded below, Bloom makes a fuel cell that will be used to power homes (in the future) and commercial buildings (right now).
Pictured above is K.R. Sridhar with a fuel cell stack – two of these could power the average American home. A retail store like Starbucks could be powered by about 64 stacks. Each stack is made with multiple fuel cells.
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The fuel cell is made with a layer of sand that is baked into a ceramic and then coated with proprietary green and black “inks.” This is then sandwiched by a metal plate made of a cheap metal alloy to complete the fuel cell.
The core of the Bloom box is made with multiple stacks. The boxes require a fuel, such as natural gas, landfill gas, or bio-gas, which reacts with air in the fuel cell to create electricity.
Bloom boxes, according to Stahl, have been purchased and are being tested by 20 large California companies, including Google, FedEx, Wal-mart, Staples, and eBay. The ones bought by FedEx cost $700,000 - $800,000, with substantial state and federal incentives available to cut back the cost.
In five to ten years, Sridhar expects smaller Bloom box units in the residential context, with a unit costing somewhere less than $3,000. It's an interesting prospect to consider. In the meantime, Bloom Energy appears ready to blow the lid off their website tomorrow.
Media credits: 60 Minutes/CBS.
The Bloom Box and Buildings [Video] from www.jetsongreen.com/2010/02/the-bloom-box-and-buildings-video.html ]]>Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe (MPSE) is investing £100m in offshore wind turbine research in Britain and will create up to 200 jobs by 2014.
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Affresol's building uses 18 tonnes of recycled material
Welsh firm builds plastic house from www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3158820&c=1 ]]>