Green Building Focus
Green schools: higher test scores & lower absenteeism
Dallas Business Journal - August 29
In the landmark study titled "Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits," conducted by green building technology consultant Capital E and sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Institute of Architects, the American Lung Association, Federation of American Scientists and the U.S. Green Building Council, the following were among the many favorable findings for green schools:
- significant improvement in test scores for reading and math
- reduction in absenteeism ranging from 5% to 15%
- an average 41% reduction in health-related costs
- fewer teacher sick days
- improved teacher retention and recruitment
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| Green Globes rating competing with LEED certification |
| Sustainable Industries - September 5 |
Competition for the rating of green buildings in Oregon has arrived. Portland-based Green Building Institute awarded a rating of two globes through its Green Globes Rating System to Umatilla Morrow Head Start located in the Victory Square Center in Bend, Ore. The project was designed to meet LEED Silver standards, but the $75,000 LEED certification cost was reduced to $10,000 through the Green Globes rating. The main advantage other than cost between Green Globes and the United States Green Building Council's LEED system is said to be the greater flexibility. Instead of being locked into the choices on a predetermined check list, building owners benefit from an onsite inspection to help them choose appropriate features for their project. |
| Fast track process for LEED certification gets green light |
| US Green Building Council - September 2 |
Developers and property owners now have the option of pursuing LEED for several properties at once through a streamlined process called volume certification. Applicants work with the U.S. Green Building Council to establish a prototype that meets LEED standards, so that properties developed or retrofitted according to that prototype can be certified more quickly than a one-off project. Each property must still be individually LEED certified, but that certification process is carried out largely through the developer's own quality control reporting and through spot checks by an inspector for the U.S. Green Building Council.
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| Global Green's LEED Platinum Holy Cross Home in New Orleans built to withstand hurricanes |
| Global Green - September 4 |
New Orleans' Global Green USA's Holy Cross Project Visitor Center was built specifically to withstand water and high winds, in addition to being a LEED Platinum home. The home, made possible with lead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation, will ultimately feature housing for 23 families and a community center. The home is being built on the highest ground in the Ninth Ward and is designed to resist Hurricane winds of up to 130 mph through structural reinforcement, a durable metal roof, and energy-efficient windows and doors with shatterproof glass. |
| Plan for Clovis village represents future of urban planning |
| Fresno Bee - September 8 |
Loma Vista, a long-anticipated urban village in Clovis, California, represents the next frontier of urban planning. Loma Vista will feature an old-fashioned village green, a network of trails and a "downtown" main street of offices or houses on top of or adjacent to stores and restaurants. The latest version of the innovative community -- now being distributed to agencies for review -- can be seen on the city's Web site, and could reach the City Council by year's end. Loma Vista will consist of four master-planned communities designed around focal points such as schools, village greens and other features. It could house 29,000 people in 20 years, and is designed to be a compact, thriving, pedestrian-friendly urban village where residents live, work and play. |
| British Columbia adopts new green building code |
| Journal of Commerce - September 8 |
British Columbia’s new green building code is in effect. As of September 5th, every new building in the province must meet strict standards for energy and water efficiency. New houses, multi-family residential buildings under five stories, and small commercial and industrial buildings must also meet new insulation requirements. More information about the new building code can be found here. |
| Sustainable buildings are virtuous, but some can be ugly |
| Newsweek - September 6 |
According to Newsweek, achieving real sustainability is much more complicated than the publicity around green building suggests. Currently, the building of "Green McMansions" is on the rise while the average new house is 2,500 square feet, up 1.5 percent in size from last year. Building green houses-or at least advertising them as green-is on the rise, though there are no national standards about what constitutes a green home. People are attracted to sustainable houses partly as a cool novelty, when in fact green dwellings have been around for eons. The author goes on to criticize the vast majority of green construction as being "ugly" and suggests the return of a few classic design examples of home design. |
| NAHB to hold Green Building Awards: January 31, 2009 |
| NAHB - September 8 |
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will honor excellence in green residential design and construction practices and outstanding green advocacy efforts with the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards, according to a release by the Association. Awards will be given in the following categories: Advocate of the Year (Builder, Remodelor, Individual, Group); Project of the Year (Single Family, Remodel, Multifamily); Development of the Year; HBA Green Building Program of the Year (New and Existing); and Outstanding Green Marketing. More information on eligibility criteria and applications can be downloaded from the event website.
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