Regionalization

Written by R. Kirk Johnson, AIA, LEED AP

This is the third article delineating emerging sustainable regulations as defined in the fourth edition public draft of the Standard 189.1P Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings.  The first two articles, illustrated in previous U.S. Green Building Council North Texas Chapter digital magazine editions, described elements from energy and sustainable sites. This brief overview article concentrates upon information as it relates to the materials, resources, and indoor environment air quality portions of the regulation.

Regionalization

Written by R. Kirk Johnson, AIA, LEED AP

This April, as part of the LEED 2009 v3 rollout, USGBC issued a listing of regional priorities applicable to various bioclimatic regions throughout the United States.  This paramount undertaking originated out of a need to localize the LEED Rating System to match specific climatic and environmental needs within each geographical area.  Given the multiplicity of ecological systems throughout the United States, the needs within one part of the country can vary significantly from another area.  This diversity equally holds true in large individual states such as Texas or California which both contain considerable variant bioclimatic conditions and geography.  The addition of Regional Priority Credits (RPC) contextualizes the LEED Rating system to specific localities.

Regionalization

Written by R. Kirk Johnson, AIA, LEED AP

Most of us have heard or seen the publicized saying that states, “Think globally. Act locally”.  The essence of the statement implies that a combination of global perspective and local implementation is an effective way to produce change.  Of all the applicable components that this theme indicates, there is a timely opportunity to implement specific locality in the green building construction industry.  Although significant strides have been made in the past few years regarding green building construction, specifically as measured by the USGBC LEED Rating System, the overall implementation is relatively early in the adoption process in the United States at Federal, State, and Local levels.  Much has been accomplished.  Much needs to be completed.

Regionalization

Written by Zaida Basora, AIA

During 2008 and certainly in the first quarter of 2009, we have seen and experienced the tremendous growth and success of the green building movement locally and nationally.  In a recent article by the CoStar group, sustainability advocates state that “despite a slowdown affecting nearly all segments of the commercial property industry, green building is positioned to withstand the deepening economic recession and possibly emerge as a more influential force than before.”