What you Need to Know About Building Green

Posted by Christopher P. Soper, LEED® AP on September 23, 2010

This week is World Green Building Week, and today - September 23, 2010 - happens to be the Green Building Day. In honor of the increased international and national focus on green building initiatives, we wanted to provide a brief overview of green building and LEED certification.

One of the fastest growing aspects of construction today is green building. Due in part to American Recovery and Investment Act, also known as the federal Stimulus Act, and the adoption of environmental code requirements by local and state legislatures, green building continues to grow in both new construction and the renovation of existing buildings. As this industry continues to grow it is important that owners, developers, designers and contractors all understand what it means to be green.

So far, the focal point for the development of green building has been the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED rating system provides certification for new projects based upon earning points in key performance areas. For new construction projects, these areas include:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation in Design
• Regional Priority

To break down the LEED system even further, there are different levels of LEED that can be achieved: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. These levels correspond to the number of credits accrued in the green categories above.

Some incentives for constructing a building that qualifies for LEED certification are: 
            • anticipated tax breaks
            • energy savings
            • occupancy rates
            • sale price and rental rates

Once LEED certification has been achieved, it is important to maintain that status for the entire life of the building. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) recently adopted a policy that allows parties to challenge the LEED certification of a building. Anyone can raise a challenge to the LEED certification and there is no time limit for doing so. This policy has the affect of forcing all those involved with a LEED rated project to maintain the LEED certification documentation long after the project is complete. A project de-certified by this policy will not receive a refund of any of the fees paid to the GBCI and could potentially have state and local incentives retroactively revoked.

The Pittsburgh Penguins Go Green With the Construction of the New Consol Energy Center

Posted by Veronica Finkelstein on August 24, 2010

Savvy contractors looking to enter the green building market should keep their eye out for new areas of green building. One new area is likely to be sports complex construction. The first LEED certified sports complex was the Portland Trail Blazers’ Rose Garden. 

More recently, the Consol Energy Center , the future home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has become the first National Hockey League arena to achieve Gold LEED certification.

Pittsburgh is also looking forward to opening a new Eat’n Park at the Waterworks Mall. A company spokesperson noted that, “Ninety-five percent of the materials for this restaurant have been sourced regionally . . . [O]ne of the key things for green building . . . is that you use local resources, and that’s one of the things we’ve done.” The new Eat’n Park will be the first LEED-certified restaurant in the city.

With other green construction projects cropping up, contractors are wise to think “outside the box” and consider developing an expertise in green building no matter what area of construction they specialize in.

Construction Opportunities in Philadelphia

Posted by Elise M. Carlin on August 23, 2010

Mayor Michael Nutter recently announced that construction will move forward on the proposed $70 million Mormon Temple. 

The temple is expected to open in 2013 and the proposed location is 18th and Vine Streets.   While the temple’s opening will be historic moment for the Mormon community, its construction is significant to the Philadelphia community.  Once the temple gets zoning and other approvals, 300 new construction jobs will be associated with the project.

Also on deck, a number of Philadelphia projects that are part of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Revenue, Capital and Debt’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program have recently been approved by the state’s General Assembly.   Once approved by Governor Rendell, these projects will be a go. 

One of the projects awaiting approval is $5 million worth of capital improvements on the Independence Visitors Center.  Making the Center a green building is a priority.  “One of my goals is to make this a green building, if possible.  It could include solar panels, lighting, HVAC systems,” said Jim Cuorato, the director of Center, and former Philadelphia city Commerce Director.   Philadelphia has a long history of being green and the City of Brotherly Love is currently the 8th-most sustainable city in the country.   The number of green construction opportunities both in Philadelphia and across the country is expected to grow in the future.  Accordingly, it’s no surprise that green construction is a topic that has been generating a lot of Buzz. 

To read more about green construction and LEED certification, click here.  Christopher P. Soper is an associate at Cohen Seglias and focuses his practice on construction law.  Mr. Soper is among the few attorneys in Philadelphia accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED® Accredited Professional (LEED AP).