Business Facilities - June 2008 - (Page 11)

environment that would not be possible without local leadership and strong citizen involvement,” he adds. “Going green” is no longer the wave of the future—it increasingly has become a central feature of today’s building practices. Developers and corporate executives have recognized that sustainable, energy-efficient buildings may come with a cost premium, but can also bring immediate and long-term financial rewards. Green development increasingly has become a prime agenda item in boardrooms when new construction is being discussed. For a developer, returns can come in the form of higher sales and rents; tenants can save on energy and utility costs. According to Kenny McDonald, executive vice president of the Charlotte Regional Partnership and a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, building with sustainable design yields cost savings for companies committed not only to following the proper guidelines, but who also set out to plan their buildings in ways that will save money. “The whole rationale is to cut your energy usage and to conserve more,” McDonald says. “Your waste disposal is going to be smarter and hopefully that will reduce your cost, and there also are tax credits that provide direct cost advantages.” Major players who have emerged in green building include Bank of America, Wa c h o v i a , and Toyota. “These companies are deeply committed, but they’re also very smart about how they do it. Companies that are [superficially going green] to gain a marketing advantage probably are not saving much money right now,” McDonald notes. Most companies that go green do so by following the LEED rating system. Under the USGBC program, the nonprofit group awards silver, gold and platinum levels of certification based on a checklist of environmental components which have become the nationally accepted benchmarks for achieving sustainable buildings through design, construction and operation. LEED has six major categories of review: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design. John Madden Co., a 40-year-old real estate development firm based in Denver, CO, has a history of incorporating open space and green practices into its business properties, and now designs its buildings to achieve LEED certification. Steve Brown Jr., vice president of project development, says the company increasingly is hearing the call for LEED certified development. “LEED is not a buzzword—it is important to everyone we’re talking to,” Brown says. “I have not heard one person say: ‘Oh you’re not on that stupid bandwagon too, are you?’ John Madden Co. expects its 15-story Palazzo Verdi office building in Denver, set to open in June, to receive LEED gold certification. PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN MADDEN CO. BUSINESS FACILITIES 11

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - June 2008

Business Facilities - June 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots Metro Spotlight: Austin, TX The Greening of America Winds of Change in the Berkshires Hot Logistics Locales Metro Spotlight: New Mexico Borderplex Hollywood on the Louisiana Bayou Idaho: Gem State's Economy is Glittering Mayor's Reports New Brunswick, Canada's Export Leader Virginia: Where Business and Fun Come Together How Green Is Your Site? Maine's New Maritime Marketing Message Corporate Moves: Alabama Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - June 2008

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