There is no shortage of green and sustainable commercial buildings that are either currently in development or slated to be built. However, what do we do with approximately 4.5 million existing commercial properties that were not built with sustainability in mind? Are the majority of today's commercial buildings effectively obsolete and in need of replacement?
Obviously the answer is no. But how do we deal with this problem? The USGBC addressed it three years ago with the launch of LEED for Existing Buildings, or LEED-EB, which is designed to help owners and managers bring non-green properties into a more efficient way of operating. It’s not a perfect solution, but it certainly is a much more cost-effective approach than conducting a total gut rehab.
Essentially, the USGBC is promoting a way for the owners of the vast stock of non-sustainable commercial properties to make them more marketable. The building owners who decide that LEED-EB is a much smarter way of handling their assets will find themselves with much more valuable and leased-up portfolios. But those who do not make this choice eventually will find themselves locked out.
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02/07/08 @ 08:55 Permalink
02/07/08 @ 09:51 · http://www.codegreensolutions.com Jonathan, is correct, and the tipping point for the LEED existing building program probably happened sometime in the later half of 2007. In general, most are finding a LEED building rents better, sells better and is more efficient. Its become part of what "class A" space mean.
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02/07/08 @ 10:40 