Trends for Green Building

by Jodi Williams, LEED AP, HOK Advanced Strategies

By this point, we are well into 2011 and thought it would be fun to look at what we think will be some of the major trends in green building this year. Net Zero. Energy Star is so last decade! Who needs a mere energy-efficient building when you can produce as much energy as you use? Or even sell some back to the grid? If the U.S. Department of Energy can do it, and a group of architects and engineers can design a market-rate Net Zero spec office building - so can you!

Occupant Engagement. So you just built yourself a brand-spanking new LEED Platinum building? That's a great step, but it's time to not only get your building managers, but also your employees, engaged. Occupant behaviors contribute significantly to a building's overall use patterns. Engaging your building occupants to help reduce energy and water use in the office can make a huge difference. Smarter transportation at the individual level can also help reduce your scope 3 emissions. Another big plus: changing occupant behavior is relatively inexpensive! Eco-districts. It's about so much more than a singular green building - the concept of eco-districts is bound to spread. Cities like Portland, Oregon are planning eco districts that pull together green buildings, green utilities, and green jobs to increase the impact of sustainable design. Look for this to become more prevalent this year and into the future. Water awareness. While carbon awareness is very important, the concept of carbon can be challenging to grasp; water awareness is much more accessible to the general population. Availability of clean, potable water is beginning to make the news - whether it be through drought conditions in California and the Southwest United States (see NOAA's seasonal drought forecast here), flooding in Pakistan and Australia, or mudslides in Brazil. Not only are we experiencing extreme weather conditions, but also, sea level rise is of concern for island nations and coastal zones. According to the U.S. EPA, sea level along the mid-Atlantic coast rose five to six inches over the last 100 years; the next 100 years are predicted to have a six inch to two foot global average sea level rise. And let's not forget about water quality: water quality is declining due to population growth, rapid urbanization, and the discharge of pathogens and chemicals from industries. So, what do you think? Respond to info@usgbcncr.org with your thoughts on what the latest and greatest green trends are - we will feature some of the most interesting/innovative in an upcoming article.