For commercial projects, it’s obvious; For residential use, mathematics does not give
If ever there was a time to evaluate the benefits of green building, it would be now.
While South Florida cities were spared the impact of Hurricane Irma’s full force, many local authorities also credit government-issued building requirements for the region’s relative resilience during the storm.
And while post-Irma data wasn’t available at press time, it’s fair to say that regulations calling for a reduction in energy and water use buildings have helped lessen the strain on storm-ravaged infrastructure. Many commercial projects go beyond the minimum requirements to include green features that will create long-term energy cost savings. But on the residential side, expensive eco-friendly products can squeeze profit margins and drive up prices, which inhibits some would-be buyers. Green building can increase the costs of commercial and residential projects by 1 to 10 percent, experts told TRD.
Large-scale eco-construction
In commercial construction, codes already mandate certain levels of resource efficiency, such as LEED certification, which refers to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a widely used rating system, designed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Developers also employ other green building programs, such as standards set by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), a nonprofit organization that certifies green building projects.
In the city of Miami, for example, new buildings larger than 50,000 square feet must earn a LEED silver certification, second in a four-level qualification program (certification, silver, gold, platinum). Cost differentials are difficult to determine, but they increase with each step. LEED charges fees for registration, pre-certification and certification, depending on the scope of the project.
Developers do the math when deciding how far they should exceed basic code requirements in new buildings. When they see long-term savings that generate a solid return on investment, they usually choose to spend more on green systems, which also help when selling the property. “LEED certification and other green certification programs in construction are important marketing tools,” said Brett Porak, director of pre-construction at Moss & Associates, a large Fort Lauderdale-based design-build firm with a variety of green projects.
“Some owners and developers follow LEED guidelines without seeking actual certification to eliminate the cost of certification,” added Ron Antevy, president and CEO of e-Builder, a Fort Lauderdale-based provider of construction management software. With or without certification, developers emphasize green elements when marketing their buildings, Antevey said.
There are currently 1,309 commercial projects participating in LEED in the greater Miami-Ft. Lauderdale ” said Marisa Long, vice president of public relations and communications for the U.S. Green Building Council. “Of those, 555 are LEED certified. In the state of Florida, there are 3,702 projects participating in LEED.
