August 24th, 2009 in Green 2 Comments
Green buildings are getting a lot of attention these days for their environmental and health impacts and long-term cost savings. For all this attention, notes the author, many of these buildings fall short of expectations in their acoustical performance. Part of the problem seems to be that LEED and other rating systems don’t include specific acoustical credits, and designers are simply too caught up in more top of mind considerations to even think about this issue. The good news is that open-plan green workspaces can get the proper acoustics as easy as ABC… (more…)
August 13th, 2009 in Trends No Comments
Current economic conditions are causing many firms to cut back on real estate costs. Other companies are simply looking to rearrange things to eliminate the morale-sapping empty offices resulting from firm layoffs. This article looks at three design trends that have emerged to address this situation and create engaging environments for creativity and productivity. (more…)
August 11th, 2009 in Green, Health No Comments
Good air quality is an important factor in maintaining a healthy and comfortable office environment. This article takes a look at the latest techniques to marry the best of ventilation and air filtration systems with low emission, environmentally friendly furnishings to enhance the health and performance of employees and bolster the organizational bottom line. Notable efforts discussed include:
- The use of low-emitting carpets, low-volatile organic paints and urea-formaldehyde-free wood products;
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April 15th, 2009 in Buildings, Green No Comments
This article examines the findings of two separate studies that conclude that “green” building has yet to prove its financial viability. A study by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association of Herndon, Virginia, found that a 30 percent improvement over the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) code – a benchmark cited by many prominent efficiency advocates – is not financially feasible for most class-A office construction. The conclusion of the NAIOP president: developers would not be able to recoup the costs from energy-savings for at least a decade. Furthermore, he notes that the costs of achieving these higher-efficiency targets vary so widely across climate zones that a “one-size-fits-all” approach imposed by legislation or other mandates simply won’t work.
Meanwhile, a survey by a Los Angeles law firm and Constructive Technologies Group (CTG) of Irvine, CA found that 93.4 percent of more than 900 respondents believed that green building was worth the time and effort. The Third Annual Green Building Survey, however, found only 66.2 percent agreed it was worth obtaining official LEED certification from the U.S. Green Council, down from 76 percent in its second annual survey of last year.
On the bright (green) side: most respondents felt that the cost premium for green construction over traditional building is less than 4 percent. Furthermore, notes the author, recent increases in energy costs lead 74 percent of respondents to indicate that they are more likely to incorporate green elements into future projects.
Source: Staff, Mortgage Banking; Apr, 2009
