GREEN BUSINESS VIEWS

Posts Tagged ‘LEED’

In terms of certifications, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is well-recognized and a good idea that applies to new construction and existing building renovation.  Therefore, it is fair to say that their primary market is building owners.  Roughly speaking, the LEED certification will add about 30% to the real cost of construction or renovation.   This is counterbalanced by the extrapolation of the projected savings of these improvements over a period of 10 to 20 years.

In the belief that the building dramatically figures into both the Green health impact and the sustainable equation of resource management, it is a good idea to have buildings that are constructed by better materials and that require less energy to operate.  Other environmental concerns can be addressed in the early stages of design and planning.

Depending on the number of points achieved, the building can attain Platinum (52 – 69 points), Gold (39 – 51 points), Silver (33 – 38 points) or LEED certified (26 – 32 points) status.  Of course, the compliance required to get the higher levels of certification add to the cost of LEED certification.  In hard economic times when banks are much more tight-fisted, the extra burden of the LEED certification is an idea facing hard times.  More than a few LEED projects have fallen out due to money restraints.

Green Business League offers the “Green Business Certification” that is not tied to the building, and there is good reason for this.  The vast majority of businesses in America (and elsewhere) do not own the building that they are in.   They rent or lease the facility which is often a portion of the building.   Some businesses actually operate out the owner’s home or property, which is a very Green idea.   Not being building owners, they are not allowed to participate in the environmental solution offer by LEED.

The Green Business League considers the Green Practices or operation of the building as the primary criteria for Green business certification.   It helps to have a Green building, but Green practices is viewed as a call for universal participation in the environmental process that is desperately needed.  You see, living in a garage does not make you a car.   Standing in a forest does not make you a tree.   Neither does working in a LEED building make your company Green.   Environmentalism is everyone’s duty, and the operation of the  business is a further commitment to the environment.   Whether you business is in a Green building or not, the ability to have a Green operation that has adopted “Green Practices” brings a new and valuable solution to all levels of business regardless of size or real estate assets.

There is a need for everyone to do their Fair Share in the face of an environmental crisis.   It is not the singular responsibility of manufacturer or building owners.   This problem will not be solved by the few, but the many who see that modification of our lifestyle is the preferable solution to the loss of our lifestyle.   Using a simple-to-accomplish system of 100 points and the assistance of trained Certified Green Consultants, the Green Business League is building a national and international network of Green Businesses that will also provide a marketplace where Green Businesses will be encouraged to support other Green businesses.   It is an idea that has come of age and needs to be part of the fabric of a new and Greener generation.