Go Ahead….LEED Me On!

By:  Stephanie Benney

Do you ever wander the streets of Pittsburgh, taking in all of the amazing architecture?  Do you stop to think about the history behind each structure, or the construction process executed to erect these amazing buildings?

I formally began my “Green” career path with my employment at a mid-sized construction company in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.  While I always knew I enjoyed my architecture and art history courses in college, I wasn’t sure I was going to find the same enjoyment  or passion in the construction industry.  As it turned out,  this became one of the most educational experiences of my life.

I started in a graphic design position, but quickly settled in to take on more responsibilities.  It was in one of these roles that I was introduced to a little something called LEED standards/qualification/certification.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  In March of 2000, this internationally recognized green building certification system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.  This system implements measurable green design, construction and maintenance solutions.

LEED construction is graded on a scale, or rating system to evaluate its sustainable building level.  This is done by LEED committees, which are diverse groups representing a vast population of the building and construction industry.  LEED can be applied to various building types, such as residential and commercial(existing and new construction alike).

There are many benefits to constructing a LEED building.  The most obvious, is that it cuts down operation and utility costs.  According to the U.S. Building Council, building owners can expect to see a decrease in operational costs by 13.6% for new construction and 8.5% for existing building projects.  Another benefit is increasing the value of the structure, due to people recognizing the benefits of a LEED constructed building.  The building value increases 10.9% for new construction and 6.8% for existing buildings, causing ROI(return on investment) to increase 9.9% for new construction and 19.2% for existing buildings.

I have heard that the “Greenest” buildings are the ones that already exist, which proves that last statistic to be very true. A perfect Pittsburgh example is Phipps Conservatory.  Phipps is an existing structure that has become one of the most sustainable buildings in the country over the years. It has the first ever LEED certified visitor center in a public garden.

Phipps Conservatory’s sustainability is measured by energy efficiency, high-efficiency bathroom fixtures, composting, landscaping and green roof tops just to name a few.  Low or No-VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) are used to create a safer, healthier environment for people and plant life.  It also has an integrated pest management system, which includes:  the least toxic method, natural predators and parasites, pest-resistant plant varieties, cultural practices, biological controls, various physical techniques and strategic use of pesticides.

Phipps Conservatory is just one amazing example of how Pittsburgh is paving its way in sustainable and green construction.  It has so many other green aspects to its operations and construction and I would be going on and on.  So, if you are interested in learning more about Phipps and its sustainability, please visit www.phipps.conservatory.org.  I hope that I have given you an easy-to-understand general education of LEED, and that the next time you are walking into a building, you open your eyes to the green and sustainable features around you.

Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com