New "Green Codes" Gain Momentum
By Jeffrey R. King , LEED AP
The State of Maryland recently passed legislation enabling local jurisdictions to adopt the International Green Construction Code (also known as the Green Code) as a requirement for new construction in that state, to be effective as of March 2012. This follows the previous adoption of the Green Code by the State of Rhode Island, the cities of Richland, Washington. and Ft. Collins, Colorado, as well as local governments in the State of New Hampshire.
New "Green Codes" Gain Momentum
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ASHRAE 189.1, the ICC International Green Construction Code (IGCC) and the Role of Voluntary LEED Certification Programs
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, CEM, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions (November 2010)
In early 2007 the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and US Green Building Council (USGBC) developed a standard that provided minimum criteria for green building practices in a form that can be incorporated into building codes. The result was Standard 189.1 that was developed for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/IGCC/Documents/ASHRAE_viewer.aspx) and released as a final standard in March 2010. read more... | tell a friend
Wrapping Up Green Processes and Office Sustainability (Part III)
The following article was published in Inside Business the week of August 23, 2010
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
The final list of ideas is designed to bring additional green processes to successfully launch a comprehensive sustainability program in your business. The following list of ideas introduces paper usage, equipment usage and additional sustainable practices for a typical office environment. Because offices functions vary considerably in their needs, it is not possible to present all conservation approaches or money saving items in a single list. read more... | tell a friend
Launch Green Processes and Office Sustainability (Part II)
The following article was published in Inside Business the week of July 5, 2010
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
In the previous article on June 21, 2010 suggestions in recycling, reclaiming and the reuse of materials to minimize office expense and optimize business operation were introduced.
The following list of ideas is designed to introduce additional green processes to successfully launch a comprehensive sustainability program in your business. read more... | tell a friend
Launching Green Processes and Office Sustainability
The following article was published in Inside Business the week of June 21, 2010
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
Implementing green processes or a sustainability program for any business is not only good for the environment but good for your business's bottom line. By conserving resources (energy, water, etc.) and cutting down on waste, businesses are able to reduce their operating expenses. The good news is that whether you run a home-based business or an off-site enterprise, there are simple things you can implement in the office to run a sustainable eco-friendly business.
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Steps To Make Your Business Sustainable
The following article was published in Inside Business the week of March 8-12, 2010
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
A practical approach to greening your business or launching a Business Sustainability Program (BSP) is not as difficult as one may believe. By using the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criterion designed for Existing Building (Operation & Maintenance) you are able to launch a well structured program to reduce your bottom line, help your employees and improve the environment. read more... | tell a friend
If you own a Business you need to understand Sustainability
The following article was published in "Inside Business" the week of February 8-12, 2010.
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
The phrase “to sustain” or the term “sustainability” has a number of definitions. In a broad sense, it means the capacity to endure which is seen in natural around us every day. However, a more widely quoted and accepted definition (internationally) for business means "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." read more... | tell a friend
Conservation Measures Show up on the Bottom Line
The following article was published in the Virginia Pilot on February 21, 2010
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
A practical and inexpensive approach to launching a Business Sustainability Program is not as difficult as one may believe. For optimal efficiency a structured approach should be taken to implement the most cost effective conservation measures in a business. However, the following basic recommendations may be implemented as a start to save money in any business operation. read more... | tell a friend
Commercial Real Estate Crash Is Here
By: Dan Weil
You wouldn’t call billionaire investor Wilbur Ross a bull on commercial real estate now.
He says a “huge crash” has begun in the sector.
“All of the components of real estate value are going in the wrong direction simultaneously,” Ross, CEO of WL Ross & Co, told Bloomberg.
“Occupancy rates are going down. Rent rates are going down, and the capitalization rate – the return that investors are demanding to buy a property – is going up.”
U.S. commercial property sales will hit the lowest level in almost 20 years, estimates research firm Real Capital Analytics Inc. Already, the Moody’s/REAL Commercial Property Price Indices have dropped 40 percent over the last two years.
Ross told Bloomberg he will exercise extreme caution before putting money into commercial real estate, especially office buildings. That’s because tenants are deserting office space in droves.
Office vacancies surged to a five-year high of almost 17 percent in the third quarter. “I think it’s going to take quite a while to work itself out,” Ross said.
Real estate icon Sam Zell takes issue with Ross’ pessimism.
“(As for) all the new savants on commercial real estate like Wilbur Ross, . . . I find their comments are inversely related to their knowledge of the industry,” Zell, chairman of Equity Residential said in a recent speech.
While Zell isn’t a raging bull, he says building vacancies won’t be an issue by mid-2011.
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
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Suggestions to Consider for Greening You Business
By Guy J. (Jeff) Hall, LEED AP, Owner, Sustainable Building Solutions
Use Better Paper, and Less of It
The average office tosses out about 350 pounds of paper per employee, per year. Reducing your waste and purchasing paper with post-consumer recycled content can help save trees and nudge the pulp and paper industry, one of the most environmentally destructive industries in the world, toward a less damaging path.
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