Agenda

a.       What LEED means

b.       Benefits of LEED

c.       A LEED report on Schools meaning to supporting organizations

d.       Financial aspects of LEED for any School

e.       Gering Business Club Assistance?  Support / promote the “Sustainable Building…” symposium, March 8th

f.        Parting facts in support of LEED across the Nation

 

1)      what LEED means to citizens

g.       defined (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

h.       Buildings in USA: consume 12% water, have 39% CO2 emissions, 65% waste generated, 71% electrical use

i.         four (4) levels of LEED credits via the CIR process (Credit Interpretations and Rulings)  79 “points” LEED for Schools

                                                               i.      Certified 29-36 points   Silver 37-43 points   Gold 44-57 points   Platinum 58-79 points

                                                             ii.      All projects must meet all prerequisites in order to gain certification. 

                                                            iii.      Site selection  /  Water efficiency  /  Energy efficiencies & Atmosphere   /  Material selection & Resources (certified renewable, etc)  /  Indoor environmental quality (mold prevention, classroom acoustics, daylighting) /  Innovation & Design

j.         LEED provides industry with consistent, credible standards for green building accountability!

k.       LEED for Schools is the recognized third-party verified standard for high-performance schools that is healthy for students, comfortable for teachers, and cost-effective.  As of April 20, 2007, all new construction and major renovations of K-12 school facilities seeking LEED certification must use the LEED for Schools Rating System.

l.         Construction vs. Operational Costs are inseparable using LEED – must be considered as a total system, cannot divide or chiseled away to reduce costs

 

  1. Benefits of LEED
    1. School benefits

                                                               i.      better grades (5-10% national averages, 3-25% some cases)  Students should learn in healthy environment

                                                             ii.      better work/study environment (health, learning increases, less time away from work/school)

1.       3-15% cited averages of increased productivity, learning, performance

2.       3% less instructional staff turnover

3.       Calif.report of 21000 student, found 20% faster math progression

4.       same Calif.report, found 26% faster reading progression

                                                            iii.      cost effective operations (30-60% reduction of resource consumption, 30-50% less energy, 30-50% less water, reduce waste by 50-90%, average of 38.5% reduction in asthma in schools with improved indoor air quality, reduce carbon dioxide emissions 30-35%)

    1. Public benefits

                                                               i.      benefits from energy to health costs are about $70/sq ft better than conventionally built schools

                                                             ii.      each $ spent on LEED certification yields $20 return on investment over the initial cost of fees for building green

                                                            iii.      less sick days lost (both students / faculty)

                                                           iv.      substitution costs reduced (faculty)

                                                             v.      students remain in class at higher rates than conventional built schools

                                                           vi.      health costs minimized

                                                          vii.      less water used

                                                        viii.      energy costs saved

                                                           ix.      significantly reduces the life-cycle cost of operating the building

                                                             x.      taxes levied can be allocated to financing technology advances, hiring more instructors, etc, as opposed to paying increasing operational costs

                                                           xi.      extends the buildings’ usable life

 

  1. what LEED means to

a.       Henry Kelly, President, Federation of American Scientists:  “This carefully documented study (“Greening America's Schools of 10/31/06” sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Institute of Architects, the American Lung Association, the Federation of American Scientists and the US Green Building Council) conclusively demonstrates the financial, environmental, and other benefits of using green technologies in schools. In fact, failure to invest in green technologies is not financially responsible for school systems; the study uses conservative accounting practices to show that investments in green technologies significantly reduce the life-cycle cost of operating school buildings. And the public benefits of green schools are even larger than those that work directly to the financial advantage of schools. These include reductions in water pollution, improved environmental quality, and increased productivity of learning in an improved school environment.”

b.       S. Richard Fedrizzi, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council said of “Greening America's Schools of 10/31/06” report:  “USGBC is proud to be a sponsor of this important national analysis of the costs and benefits of greening our nation’s schools.  The report’s conclusions provide confirmation of USGBC’s position that by building green we all profit. For our nation’s students this is particularly true. Children’s health is disproportionately affected by indoor pollutants, while light and air quality affects their capacity to learn and succeed. This report shows that we owe it to our children - and ourselves - to make all our schools green.”

c.       Kate Schwennsen, President, The American Institute of Architects said of this report:  “High performance, cost effective schools begin with good design. As this study details, nowhere is good design more important than for our schools. Enhanced learning environments that are also environmentally responsible continue to be an ongoing focus of AIA awards programs and government advocacy. But, as the study makes clear, all schools must also be green. Members of The American Institute of Architects believe good design makes a difference. This study underscores the enormous costs of poor design, and the critical impact that good design and operation has on the quality of our children’s education. It deserves widespread consideration if we are to properly prepare students to address the environmental challenges of our new century.”

d.       Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H., Director, National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Senior Editor, Safe and Healthy School Environments (Oxford University Press, 2006) said of the report:  “This report makes the business case for greening America’s schools, and it makes a compelling case indeed. But there is also a public health case to be made. Better indoor air quality, lower levels of chemical emissions, generous provision of natural daylighting, better humidity control--these and other features of green schools offer not only environmental and fiscal benefits, but health benefits as well. These health benefits, in turn, manifest in lower student and staff absenteeism, lower staff turnover, lower health care costs, and improved school and job performance. For the more than 50 million students and the more than 5 million teachers and staff who spend their days in schools, these benefits are substantial and precious. Health professionals, educators, parents, and policymakers should carefully consider the conclusions of this report, and do their part to support environmentally friendly, healthy, and sustainable schools.”

 

  1. Financial aspects to LEED for any School (or any building build to LEED specs)

a.       Registration of a LEED project is $450/project for members ($650 for non members)

b.       Certification review fees are based on square footage not certification levels.

                                                               i.      If a project reaches the Platinum level, USGBC will pay for certification fees. 

c.       Commissioning is typically $1/sf

                                                               i.      Commissioning is not to be confused with good business practice of ensuring systems operate as purchased.

                                                             ii.      Documentation is 3rd party verification on system accountability to perform as designed & paid.

d.       Energy modeling runs about $15,000 for a project

e.       LEED manager fees ($20-40k)

f.        Project team fees may include fees for the additional documentation ($0-30k).

g.       According to Mr.Don Horn, Director of the Sustainable Design Program for our US General Services Administration, “The more experience a firm has the less it will probably cost.  Firms that have not worked with LEED before will probably charge a steep learning curve.” 

h.       Recap of LEED Registration and Certification fees (LEED-New)      (ref#7)

                                                               i.      Registration $450 members, $650 non-members

                                                             ii.      Certification Less than 50,000 sq.ft. - Fixed Rate

1.       Design Review

a.       $1,250 members

b.       $1,500 non-members

2.       Construction Review

a.       $500 members

b.       $750 non-members

                                                            iii.      Certification 50,000-500,000 sq.ft. – Based on Sq.Ft.

1.       Design Review

a.       $.025/sq.ft. members

b.       $.03/sq.ft. non-members

2.       Construction Review

a.       $.01/sq.ft. members

b.       $.015/sq.ft non-members

                                                           iv.      Certification More than 500,000 sq.ft. – Fixed Rate

1.       Design Review

a.       $12,500 members

b.       $15,000 non-members

2.       Construction Review

a.       $5,000 members

b.       $7,500 non-members

    1. PROPOSAL to Committee for School Bond Support

                                                               i.      50% matching funds from private/donated/grants to provide LEED Silver certification for approximate $30,000 LEED project of 100,000 sq foot building.

    1. Pay back to City School taxpayers – accountability for LEED system to function as designed and intended

                                                               i.      Return on LEED investment to be seen in first (1st) year of LEED certification, in addition to the $20 to $1 return on investment for life of building.

1.       Substantial energy savings (daylighting, energy use in heating/cooling/etc - above business-as-usual with super insulation factors alone)

2.       Substantial water savings (above business-as-usual with normal remodel project)

k.       Pride Factor – no other school in Nebraska is LEED certified.  Why shouldn’t Gering set the bar?

l.         Educational Factor – the environmental impact to future Nebraska leaders from Gering School District, just how does one measure the future possibilities and unknown reactive events established by such monumental environmental life changing efforts?  We want tomorrow’s leaders to be green, and their children to be able to meet their sustainable needs in the world we leave for them.

m.     Would Gering Business Club support fundraising efforts of LEED school(s) for Gering?

  1. Saturday, March 8, 2008, the symposium “Sustainable Buildings, What is LEED?  The Financial Benefits to Build Green” will be held at the Harms Advanced Technology Center.

a.       More LEED Accredited Professionals will be present and providing expertise, than are practicing in Nebraska, west of Lincoln.

b.       Please attend to learn much more about LEED for Schools by these professionals from Colorado, Lincoln and Omaha.

c.       Should Gering Business Club support symposium as a partner for environmental education, Business Club attendees receive $5 discount to admission.

  1. Parting facts in support of LEED across the Nation

a.       There are no LEED chapters in MT, ND, SD, or WY

b.       Nearest LEED chapters are Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Omaha, and Ft.Collins.

c.       There are over 1000 LEED buildings in the US, with over 13,000 in pipeline today

d.       Nation wide, status of LEED in schools

                                                               i.      68 schools (k-12 through Higher Education) have LEED certification (Cert, Silver, Gold, Platinum)  (as of Sept 2007)

                                                             ii.      Ft.Collins has 2 LEED K-12 schools

1.       LEED certified (Silver) at Fossil Ridge, the 3rd public high school in the country to achieve LEED.

2.       Bethke Elementary (under construction) will be the first built under LEED for Schools standard in Nation!

                                                            iii.      Poudre School District (PSD) builds and operates their LEED schools on limited budgets, and were built under budget

1.       LEED has not been the primary motivating force or guide.

2.       It was a collaborative effort to gain knowledge and improve buildings practices.

3.       LEED has served as a way to verify performance and add rigor to an existing program

4.       PSD LEED schools are built more economically than non-LEED certified schools

5.       PSD LEED schools consistently operate 30% more efficiently than most non-LEED schools

6.       LEED Accredited Professional architects working for PSD provide the experience with dozens of schools built, to build economically

7.       PSD success is a result of their approach to green building.

a.       LEED is the tool to measure good high performance design and green buildings

b.       Collaboration of LEED AP architects and engineers, school personnel from teachers to administrators to maintenance, and others from the very beginning.

8.       The partnership at PSD’s Fossil Ridge High School has become a living resource that teaches the next generation of the significance of environmental stewardship and how it can be achieved.

                                                           iv.      RB+B architects in process of remodeling a 1906(circa) Colorado School to LEED Gold.   RB+B are the Architects of Ft. Collins LEED schools.

                                                             v.      506 schools in nation are registered LEED!  (being built or remodeled, have not yet been certified)

e.       LEED initiatives in Government:

                                                               i.      23 states (Ark, Ariz, Cali, Colo, Conn, Florida, Hawaii, Ill, Maine, Maryland, Mass, Mich, Nev, N.J,  N.Mexico,  N.Y,  Oregon, Penn, R.Island, S.Carolina, Virginia, Wash, Wisc.)

                                                             ii.      26 resolutions (states, Canada, cities*, etc)
   (*Greensburg, KS, on 12-17-07, 1st LEED Platinum City in US)

                                                            iii.      16 Exec.Orders (states)

                                                           iv.      26 Ordinances (cities)

                                                             v.      85 Municipal/city/county initiatives

                                                           vi.      11 Green Building Policies (including LEED)

                                                          vii.      13 Federal agencies (NASA, USDA, US.DOD, US.Air Force, US.Army, US.Navy, US.Dept.of Energy, US.Dept.Health&Human Srvs, US.Dept.of Interior, US.Dept.of State, US.EPA, US.General Services Administration)

                                                        viii.      25 Private Sectors (nation wide)

                                                           ix.      22 Incentives for LEED (cities, states)

                                                             x.      34 School initiatives – Higher Education

                                                           xi.      3 School initiatives – K-12 educational districts

                                                          xii.      Multiple density bonus programs, expedited permit reviews, grant programs (nation wide)

                                                        xiii.      various incentives wavers, rebates, economic & development pgms (nation wide)

7.       LEED is not new!  LEED has been around since 1993, and has grown to more than 10,000 member companies and organizations.  However, it is time for LEED in Nebraska, and it is time for LEED as a Nebraska school value!

 

 

References:

 

 

#1 –  www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2060

#2 – www.buildgreenschools.org/resources/research.html


#3 –  www.cap-e.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F11233.pdf  Sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Institute of Architects, the American Lung Association, the Federation of American Scientists and the US Green Building Council.


#4 – www.usgbc.org, and various LEED Accredited Professionals on LEED costs, etc.

 

#5 – www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?REFERRER=/Login.aspx?REFERRER&CMSPageID=1497

 

#6 – www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=65  

#7 - Josie Plaut, LEED Accredited Professional, Director of Projects, Institute for the Built Environment, Colorado State University, Guggenheim Hall, Ft. Collins, CO 80523-1584 www.ibe.colostate.edu

 

#8 –further environmental reference materials available here:   www.alherbel.com 

Al Herbel – al@alherbel.com

 

Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

 

 

Ref: GeringBusinessClubLEED200801.doc