LEED program expands from single buildings to big developments

Green buildings are so 2000s.

The next big thing for the 2010s? Green neighborhoods.

After five years in the hopper, the group that ushered in popular “LEED” standards to certify and foster [...]]]> Next big thing: green neighborhoods
By Steve Law, Sustainable Life
March 11, 2010

LEED program expands from single buildings to big developments

Green buildings are so 2000s.

The next big thing for the 2010s? Green neighborhoods.

After five years in the hopper, the group that ushered in popular “LEED” standards to certify and foster environmentally friendly buildings is expanding, along with two partner organizations, to promote green subdivisions and mixed-use projects.

They call it LEED-ND, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development.

“The environmental gains are much larger when you capture them at a point when a neighborhood is planned and designed,” says Portland planner Eliot Allen, a principal at Criterion Planners who was instrumental in crafting the new rating system. “Instead of a single building at a time, you’re capturing hundreds of buildings at once.”

“I think it’s certainly going to help make greener developments,” says Eric Ridenour, an architect and urban designer with SERA Architects in Portland.

Buildings are one of the single-largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. LEED design standards can dramatically improve energy efficiency and other building performance measures, cutting carbon emissions that cause global warming.

Created by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED provides a voluntary system that encourages developers to shoot for higher standards. Developers who put more features into a building can gain a standard, silver, gold or platinum rating. Providing an independent certification of a building’s green features means tenants, lenders and others don’t have to rely on the claims of a developer.

The system has been so successful that the city of Portland and other jurisdictions now require LEED standards for new public buildings. Private developers seek out LEED certification because it lends a cachet to their project, helping them fill their buildings faster and charge higher rents.

From buildings to neighborhoods
After seeing the success of LEED for single buildings, the U.S. Green Building Council set out in 2004 to expand the concept to whole neighborhoods, working with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Congress for New Urbanism. Their goal is to foster neighborhoods that have a gentler impact on the environment, that reduce carbon emissions and that meet broader social and quality-of-life goals, such as housing affordability and locating jobs near homes.

“The best ideas from across the country have been distilled into a single system,” Allen says.

Instead of just a geeky review of a building, he says, LEED-ND addresses families and their back yards. Developers can score higher in the new ratings system by preserving wetlands, enabling community gardens and farmers markets, and meeting other goals.

The three organizations, along with consultants like Allen, have been fine-tuning the new rating system, and are field-testing it by evaluating several dozen pilot projects using the new certification standards.

Portland role
Portland, a national leader in the move to green buildings, also is making outsized contributions to LEED-ND.

Portland’s vibrant walkable neighborhoods were a role model for some of the precepts of LEED-ND, says Sophie Lambert, director of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development program in Washington, D.C.

Eliot Tower, an 18-story condo tower near the downtown Portland cultural district, was the first guinea pig to go through the certification process.

It’s one of five pilot projects in Portland. The others are Ladd Tower, a 23-story apartment building in the cultural district; Helensview, a 4.5-acre subdivision of 40 homes and 12 condos near Northeast Killingsworth Street and 64th Avenue; Hoyt Yards, a 34-acre complex in the Pearl District; and the Central District in South Waterfront, a 35-acre site.

Only Washington, D.C., with 10 pilot projects, has more than Portland. There’s also five pilot projects in Los Angeles.

Different from eco districts
The budding LEED-ND system was one of the inspirations for Portland’s pursuit of “eco districts,” says Rob Bennett, director of the Portland + Oregon Sustainability Institute. Eco districts, also in their infancy, are modeled after pioneering efforts in

Sweden, Vancouver, B.C., and elsewhere to redevelop worn-down sections of town with environmentally friendly transportation, energy, sewage and other features.

LEED-ND standards are more of a “how-to” set of guidelines. They could emerge as a way to set standards for an eco district and independently certify a district has met the stiff standards.

Eco districts also are seen as primarily redevelopments, Bennett says, while LEED-ND is best suited to new developments that are framed in master plans.

Allen says the LEED-ND could work in redevelopments as well, such as abandoned industrial “brownfields,” where the cost of cleaning up pollution is a barrier to reuse of the land. Getting a LEED-ND label could enable a brownfield development project to attract more financing, Allen says.

Studies have demonstrated that LEED-certified buildings attract higher rents and fill up faster, Ridenour says. Some even reduce employee absentee rates, by providing more passive sunlight that makes the buildings a more pleasant place to work.

LEED-ND organizers recently launched training sessions so a developer, architect or other professional can obtain credentials as a LEED-ND specialist. Some 400 people applied within the first couple days, Allen says.

Source: http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=4336

If you thought 2009 was a year that green took over, then think again. Over the next 10 years, the green industry is predicted to experience growth in the neighborhood of 1.5 trillion dollars. Green will continue to shape the [...]]]> Fastest growing green jobs
by Ezra Drissman, Green Careers Guide
January 26, 2010

If you thought 2009 was a year that green took over, then think again. Over the next 10 years, the green industry is predicted to experience growth in the neighborhood of 1.5 trillion dollars. Green will continue to shape the foods we eat, the products we buy, and the way we get around — and increasingly the jobs we have.

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, by 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across the country accounted for more than 770,000 jobs in clean energy, “despite a lack of sustained government support in the past decade.” This is expected to increase with fresh help from the Obama administration. In 2008 alone, private investors directed $5.9 billion into American businesses in this sector, a 48% increase over 2007. This rate should continue to accelerate.

Here are five green careers that are not entirely new, but are now being completely reinvented. If you want to keep a competitive advantage in the workforce, one must learn how these top-growing jobs are “going green.” These fields, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are expected to see a growth from 6% to nearly 30%.

Mechanical Engineer
$59,000 to $94,000 median salary range, according to the BLS. Mechanical engineering will have many opportunities in the future. However, you don’t have to wait to start in green areas of this field. Nearly all energy areas, including wind and solar, need these engineers.

You will need a four-year engineering degree to start. If you have your degree, there are three great websites that can help you work green: the American Wind Energy Association, the Solar Energy Industries Association and the American Solar Energy Society.

Environmental Engineer
$56,000 to $94,000 median salary range (BLS). One of the hardest hit fields in the recent recession has been engineering, due to contractions in the auto industry and infrastructure spending. Fortunately, this profession has numerous applications in the green field.

Environmental engineers are expected to see a 30% increase in jobs over the next ten years. They will be vital in the wind and solar fields. In addition, environmental engineer technicians and civil engineers should see a 25% growth.

If you are looking for a job in this field, a great place to start is the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. You may also want to plug yourself into the Association of Energy Engineers, which offers training for engineers to become energy auditors.

Environmental Educator
$47,000 to $50,000 median salary range (BLS). The teaching field is expected to expand by almost 20% in the coming years. What’s exciting is that weaving green practices into the classroom is becoming much more commonplace. Many schools are on the forefront of using clean energy. And science teachers are in the most demand.

Beyond the basics like environmental science, many community colleges have expanded offerings in courses like solar panel installation and energy efficient building; universities have expanded environmental policy and politics offerings, often developing entirely new departments and curricula; and graduate programs are routinely offering advanced courses in a range of subjects, like corporate sustainability. There are even green MBA programs. All of these new positions need teachers to fill them.

Becoming a teacher involves a college diploma and generally a teaching certificate. If you are an out-of-work professional you may want to consider getting a teaching certificate. While the full degree may cost you around $8 to $20 thousand a year, a teaching certificate may cost around half.

In order to really save money, you might want to consider community college first. This will allow you to take general education classes at a much more affordable price. Don’t forget that there are plenty of student loans available through the federal government. A guidance counselor will be able to point you in the right direction.

Heating and Cooling Installer
$15 to $25/hour (BLS). If you are looking for a great green job and are not interested in the college route, then heating and cooling could be the field for you. It is expected to see more than 28% growth in the coming years. Being able to install an extremely efficient solar water heater can not only put more money in your pocket, it will save the customer money in the long term and help them go green. Installers are able to put some of the most cutting edge energy-saving products to use right away.

Another reason for the strong growth is the increasing emphasis on green building, supported by the United States Green Building Council and the federal and state and local governments. Heating and cooling play a big role in energy saving.

For a more specialized training, look into geothermal. One particular training provider in this area is the GeoExchange, which can help you find the programs to get started today!

Arborist
$9 to $14/hour (BLS). If you want to get a green job outdoors then this may be the career for you. There are many variations of this job. Tree trimmers, pruners, and landscapers are expected to see more than 26% growth. Green arborists help protect plants from disease and pests with less-toxic, environmentally friendly techniques. They can also work to minimize harmful runoff, protect watersheds, and shade property, which leads to less energy demands for cooling.

A good place to start learning about the career is the Arbor Day Foundation.

Finding a green job is getting easier every day. If these don’t work for you, make sure to check out nearly 100 more at Green Careers Guide.

Source: http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=4299