Event 3: LEED Presentation (David Gulyas and Ted Mendoza)

This was an excellent talk as an introduction to LEED. First, Mr. Mendoza laid out the basic tenants of Green Building:

1) Site Planning

2) Water Management

3) Energy

4) Materials Use

5) Indoor Environmental Quality

He also emphasized collaboration between a variety of stakeholders in developing LEED, like product manufacturers, financial planners, property managers/owners, local/state government officials, and engineers, to name a few. The vision of the USGBC and LEED is to transform the building industry, by using historical building experience to improve design and create closed loop cycles for all aspects of construction. He explained the difference between the objectives for the USGBC (chapters, advocacy, green building, research, education) and the GBCI (administer LEED credentials and certify LEED projects).

There are now 1.04 billion square feet of LEED certified projects, and still growing as LEED is being enveloped into new construction projects. One interesting statistic: there are currently 27,581 commercially registered LEED projects, but only 5,707 commercially certified LEED projects. This shows the rigor of the program, and that improper planning (both financially and politically) can kill green building very easily.

The second half of the talk was conducted by David Gulyas, who went over the benefits of LEED certification:

1) Competitive Differentiator – lower operating costs, better indoor EQ, impacts tenants/buyers decisions    

     about leasing and purchasing

2) Mitigate Risk – protection against future lawsuits through 3^rd party certification

3) Attract Tenants – lease-up rates for green buildings can be upwards of 20% above average rates

4) Cost Effective – a 2% investment in green building design upfront can reap 20% in lifecycle savings, 

     AND a 10% increase in building sale price for energy efficient buildings

5) Increase Rental Rates – higher occupancy and rent premiums

Three things I learned (among others):

1) Increased productivity (not energy efficiency gains) is the biggest source of cost savings associated with 

    commercial LEED buildings! Proves what a difference a healthy work environment makes.

2) There is a new rating system for LEED certification in Neighborhood Development, AND the local 

     USGBC chapter is working with Habitat for Humanity on a new neighborhood being built on the west   

     side of Bloomington. 

3) The empire state building is LEED Gold!