Green Building

A green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact to the environment. Green buildings use durable materials that are salvaged, have recycled content or come from rapidly renewable resources. These materials significantly reduce the environmental destruction associated with the extraction, processing and transportation of virgin materials.

Green Building practices promote construction of buildings that are healthier for the occupants and healthier for the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings consume 40% of the world's total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. The building industry is the nation's largest manufacturing activity, representing more than 50% of the nation's wealth and 13% of its Gross Domestic Product. Energy and material consumption in buildings can contribute significantly to global climate change.

Sustainable building practices go beyond energy and water conservation to incorporate environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient building materials and superior indoor environmental quality. Some of the key benefits are:

• lower electric and water utility costs
• environmentally effective use of building materials
• enhanced health and productivity
• long-term economic returns
• reduced environmental impact

The Office of Sustainability was created in FY 2007-08 through Ordinance 07-65 (approved by the Board of County Commissioners on May 8, 2007) which amended the Code of Miami-Dade County to establish a Sustainable Buildings Program for Miami-Dade County facilities and required the creation of a Sustainability Manager position to oversee the program. The Ordinance also mandated the use of external sustainability rating system(s) to measure the County's efforts.

In December of 2007, the County finalized a sustainable buildings policy that requires new County owned/managed construction projects to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)  silver certification and remodeling/renovation projects to obtain basic LEED certification.

The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System is designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. It evaluates environmental performance from a “whole building” perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building. LEED is based on accepted energy and environmental principles described here.

This criteria was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)  who maintains a list of registered and LEED  certified green buildings and award certificates for the various levels of certification.

LEED divides green building practices into five major categories along with Innovation and Design, as indicated below.

LEED Professional Accreditation recognizes building professionals who have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and who have the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the integrated design and LEED certification process.

A LEED Accredited Professional (LEED® AP) is an individual who has passed an examination and possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to participate and carry out the necessary responsibilities associated with the green building design process.

BCCO encourages employees to become United States Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professionals. The following BCCO staff have achieved accreditation:

Michael Goolsby, RRC, LEED® AP
Kenneth Everett, RRC, LEED® AP
Mark Zehnal, CPRC LEED® AP
Pete Quintela, LEED® AP
Edmundo Aldrey, LEED® AP
Jose Burgos, LEED® AP
Francisco J. Arechaga, LEED® AP

Currently 15 BCCO staff members are pursuing the LEED AP credential.

Building Code

Increased Energy Performance: Energy performance must be increased by 15% above that required in the 2004 edition of the Building Code, effective with the implementation of the 2007 edition of the Florida Building Code on December 31, 2008.

There are additional energy performance increases to be implemented in future editions of the Florida Building Code:

• In the 2010 edition of the Florida Building Code there will be an additional 5% increase in energy performance as compared to the 2007 edition of the Code.
• In the 2013 edition of the Florida Building Code there will be an additional 10% increase in energy performance as compared to the 2007 edition of the Code.
• In the 2016 edition of the Florida Building Code there will be an additional 10% increase in energy performance as compared to the 2007 edition of the Code.
• In the 2019 edition of the Florida Building Code there will be an additional 10% increase in energy performance as compared to the 2007 edition of the Code.

The Florida Building Commission will implement, by rule, a cost-effectiveness test for proposed increases in energy efficiency. The cost-effectiveness test shall measure cost-effectiveness and shall ensure that energy efficiency increases result in a positive net financial impact.

Green Building Inspector:  The International Code Council is developing an Inspector of Green Building Technologies certification exam to demonstrate a code official’s ability to understand the application of green building technology and assess adherence with green building programs. The new certification will help provide assurances that green and sustainable buildings also are safe.

Green Building Guidelines:  The National Association of Home Builders have developed a voluntary green home building standard that can be adopted by local green home building programs or local jurisdictions as a conformance guide.

Green Tips

"Going green" doesn't have to be a daunting task that means sweeping life changes. Simple things can make a difference.”

Change your regular household light bulbs for the new compact fluorescent bulbs. If every household replaced just one each, it would have the equivalent benefit of removing one million cars from the road.

Buy local. Buying regional products reduces transportation costs and energy, and keeps dollars in the local economy. A major tenet of green/sustainability is making use of resources from the immediate region.

Use low VOC paint. Typical paints contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) that can lead to a host of problems such as smog, ozone pollution and poor indoor air quality.

Save water. Installing faucet aerators can reduce the amount of water used and has an added benefit of helping to reduce your water and sewer costs. Consider rainwater harvesting by channeling roof run-off into gutters and downspouts to an above or below ground cistern. The water can be used for irrigation and other outside uses, even during imposed water restrictions.

Plant a tree. It can provide shade, save on cooling your house, improve air quality and improve the value of your home.

Green Building News Links

• Florida Sets Tough Energy Code Targets
• California becomes the first State to adopt a Green Building Code
• More States enact Green Building Code
• Commissioner Sorenson Looks to Bring "Green" Construction to Miami-Dade
• Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson sees "green" in Miami-Dade

Related Links

• Climate Change Advisory Task Force
• Cool Roof Rating Council
• Energy Star
• Florida Green Building Coalition
• Florida Solar Energy Center
• FPL Energy Savings Tool Kit
• Green Building Resources 
• Green Roofing
• ICC Green Building Online