Green Building, What is LEED?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. How does LEED design benefit me as a tenant?
LEED buildings are more efficient, costing less to operate. This translates to direct dollar savings to tenants in operating expenses and ongoing maintenance. Valley Center, for example, will use high energy – efficient HVAC equipment with special filters and carbon dioxide monitors. Our roof will be highly reflective, so that extra heat does not enter into the building. This will put less strain on the HVAC equipment, allowing us to keep the cost of cooling and service low.
Since a LEED building will use less energy, energy costs will be less. LEED buildings also use water more efficiently. We are looking at waterless urinals, low flow shower heads and sensor faucets, as examples. Plantings will be selected based on their looks as well as based on their ability to grow using rain as opposed to over watering by the irrigation system.
Our parking lot will be covered with a green roof that will be irrigated naturally. This means no outdoor sprinklers will be required and less water will flow to the Renton storm water detention system. The green roof also will naturally keep the garage more comfortable. A gravel roof in the summer can get as hot as 140 to 170 degrees. Cover that same roof with planting, and the temperature will not exceed 77 degrees. This is not only environmentally sound but will keep utility bills down. An important side benefit is that the roof will be pretty, when you look out the window.
More important than even bringing down rent costs, is the healthy benefits for you, your employees and your patients. Employees are the biggest cost and they derive the biggest benefit of a “green spec building.” Valley Center will use low emission paints, carpets and adhesives creating a healthier environment. The carbon dioxide monitors will detect higher levels of gas and allow fresh air to be pumped in from outside as needed. Fresh air and natural daylight, another building feature, will help people stay alert and working at their most efficient.
Is there a rent premium at Valley Center for these LEED benefits?
No. Just the opposite is true. As LEED methods have become more main-stream, the costs have come down to where building LEED doesn’t cost extra. It just takes careful planning and dedication.
It is a great thing when we can all do very well by doing good.
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