Nation follows Austin's LEED

Nation follows Austin's LEED

By Mary Tuma Friday, 15 January 2010

AUSTIN — Resting on the 700-acre site of Austin’s former airport, the Mueller development has won praise for its energy-efficient practices, from the use of recycled materials to solar power generation. In November, the mixed-use project became Texas’ first residential community to gain LEED Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Neighborhood Development pilot program.

Mueller already had two commercial buildings with LEED Platinum certification, two with Gold and two with Silver.

“This is one of the projects that is shaping the LEED-Neighborhood rating to be used nationwide,” said Liana Kallivoka, LEED faculty member and head of Austin Energy’s commercial Green Building Program.

Yet, even while planes were still taking off and landing at the Mueller Airport, which closed in May 1999, the City of Austin was implementing green building policies that would be forerunners for the national LEED ratings.

From the ground up

The U.S. Green Building Council created Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification in 1998. LEED certification recognizes buildings that incorporate elements that are environmentally friendly, conserve water and save energy.

LEED is implemented by engineers, interior designers, real estate developers, architects and government officials and reviewed for accreditation by a consensus-based volunteer committee composed of experts in the building and construction industry.

Guidelines are broad enough to encompass different types of buildings, from residential to commercial, and to work with buildings of different ages, from retrofitted existing structures to projects in their initial design.

Buildings, including schools, homes and commercial properties, are judged on a 100-point scale, according to LEED point categories that are weighed differently based on the type of structure.

Forerunners to LEED

Started by the Austin City Council in 1985 (and first called the Energy Star Program), the Green Building Program became part of Austin Energy in 1998, was a charter member of the USGBC and hosted the national organization’s first conference. It pioneered the first comprehensive rating system in the country, taking into account factors such as climate, building and energy efficiency, water and materials, durability, health and safety for commercial, multi-family and residential properties. Rather than assigning a numerical value, the program scored buildings on a five-star scale.

Rating its first home two years before the USGBC became a nonprofit, the Austin program served as an early model for the national LEED certification system.

“Our staff participated in the development of LEED,” said Richard Morgan, manager of Austin Energy’s Green Building and Sustainability program.

Local chapter

The USGBC of Central Texas-Balcones Region was founded in 2003 and includes 700 building and associated industry professionals from Austin, San Antonio and 57 counties. The region is on par with others throughout the country, in terms of the prevalence of LEED building, chapter co-vice chair Effie Brunson said.

“We are above average, but not quite in the top 10,” she said.

While Austinites are likely more aware of green building issues than people in other regions, consumer demand here is not as strong due to the lack of constraints on development elsewhere, such as being bound by water or high living costs, she said.

A proliferation of LEED consultants in Austin during the last nine years has encouraged Green Living LLC, a multinational LEED management company based in Austin, to broaden its focus beyond the region.

CEO Elizabeth Gharib said, “Because of the green building program, there are a lot of LEED consultants here already.”

LEED vs. Green Building

In April 2009, the USGBC tightened LEED certification standards by reweighing point values and upgrading LEED Accredited Professional education, a revamping that developed because of eroding credibility, Brunson said.

“The new rules were needed to maintain a high standard,” she said.

The new requirements, resulting from the biggest changes the national program has implemented yet, will also measure energy savings associated with LEED construction.

“They are just now starting to go back and see how much has been saved in the last five years—that’s a huge deal,” she said.

Mary McLeod, coordinator of Austin Energy’s single-family department, said nearly all of her clients work exclusively for Green Building designation, rather than trying to obtain LEED certification. With no drastic differences between the rating systems, she said, Green Building certification is free for those within Austin Energy’s service area, whereas LEED sometimes involves hefty expenses, including the cost to review and fill out paperwork.

“Depending on the type and complexity of the building, there could be a lot of money associated with LEED certification,” she said. “As a city utility we think it’s important to provide ratings at no or low cost.”

The registration fee for a LEED project is $900 for USGBC members and $1,200 for nonmembers. (LEED registration fees doubled starting Jan. 11.) Certification fees vary by project size, but the average cost is $2,000.

Austin builds green

City council mandated in 2000 that all municipal buildings be LEED Silver certified. Among the rated buildings are City Hall, Gus Garcia Recreation Center and Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.

Current projects include the new Central Library, slated for completion in 2013, and renovations to the Austin Convention Center, expected to be complete in two to three years. Both aim for Gold certification.

AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center Limestone and brick purchased locally Indoor air quality controlled for low emission of odors from building materials and furnishings More than 75 percent of construction waste recycled Compact fluorescent lighting Recycled materials incorporated into wall panels, ceiling tiles and other treatments Courtyard has native plants from Texas’ five ecological regions, uses drip irrigation Organic and local foods in dining areas Other Gold buildings: Austin City Hall; Dell Pediatric Research Institute; Gus Garcia Recreation Center; Mueller Visitor Center; Office Depot on Anderson Lane	Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) Easy access to several bus lines Carpool parking, bicycle storage spaces and electric car fueling station 13,000-gallon rainwater collection system Passive-solar hot-water system for showers; solar power array for electricity More than 90 percent of work spaces have natural light and views. Materials with low emissions of volatile organic compounds Other Silver buildings: Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center; EcoShoppe (Research); Green Mountain Energy offices; Mueller Neighborhood; Southwest Educational Development Laboratory; Starbucks Coffee (Mueller); University of Texas Biomedical Engineering Building	Whole Foods Market Fireclay tile made from 50 percent post-consumer or post-industrial waste, such as brown and green glass bottles Forest Stewardship Council Wood used for cabinetry and millwork Regional materials, such as concrete, steel, window shades, limestone and lamination Located in an alternate transportation area near multiple bus lines Computerized temperature and humidity levels maintain indoor air quality. Walls faced with recycled gypsum board 100 percent of electricity used by store offset by wind power credits Other Certified buildings: Baker Botts LLP offices; Carver Branch Public Library; Carver Museum and Cultural Center; Legacy on the Lake Apartments; UT Research Office Complex