Making buildings more environmentally friendly will pay off economically for businesses after an upfront investment, says one of the creators of the LEED certification for existing structures.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry Patrik Lazzari, Blaine Construction's director of sustainable services, right, speaks as a member of the expert panel while answering questions about green practices during the Chattanooga Takes the LEED event held at the Chattanoogan Hotel on Thursday morning.
Paul von Paumgartten, whom a moderator at a Chattanooga conference dubbed the “godfather of LEED,” said Thursday that applying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification while refitting an existing building or erecting a new one can cost up to $30,000.
But the director of energy and environmental affairs with Johnson Controls Inc. in Milwaukee said that cost will be returned quickly from efficient electric and water use.
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said that building sustainable buildings is the right thing to do and can promote the economy.
“LEED certification is about common sense,” Mr. Ramsey said. “There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. This conference is about finding better ideas” for business and the environment.
In the near future, Mr. von Paumgartten said, environmentally friendly features will be a common component in construction and renovation projects, which will lower costs.
Also, the federal government will mandate that all businesses take steps to conserve electricity, Mr. Paumgartten said.
Businesses which stay ahead of the curve can save money and thrive, he said, comparing “sustainable” buildings to hybrid cars.
The American car industry failed to invest in hybrids 15 years ago, in contrast to Japanese manufacturers, he said.
FAST FACTS
* Construction starts of “green” buildings in the United States could triple to $140 billion by 2013, according to the Green Outlook 2009 report.
* LEED-certified buildings have a higher occupancy rate and sell for a higher square footage cost, according to CoStar Group.
Source: Chattanooga Takes the LEED brochure
“You can see the impact of not seeing what’s coming,” Mr. von Paumgartten said.
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who opened the event, said government and businesses should work together to create environmental building standards.
“I don’t think you have to regulate everything, but I think there’s a great balance we can strike between private initiative and good government regulation,” Mr. Wamp said. “That’s exactly what you’re here today to focus on.”
Sustainable designs are important because commercial buildings use nearly 40 percent of all energy in the nation and contribute 40 percent of atmospheric emissions, Mr. von Paumgartten said. The use of fiber-optic, LED and solar lights in building renovations in the next few years can save businesses half of their light bills, he said.
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