October 5, 2012

Going green for less

Everyone’s seen him: The MacBook Air-carrying, vegan shoe-wearing, Prius-driving environmentalist, riding a bike more expensive than your car to work on his next solar panel/composting/reusable energy project – and just a little too excited to talk about it.

Clearly, sustainability is an issue people with no cash flow problems worry about.

Or is it?

SPONSORED CONTENT

Solar Operations and Maintenance for Commercial Properties

One key qualification to consider when selecting a solar partner to install your system is whether they have an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) or service department. Since solar is a long-term asset with an expected lifecycle of 30 plus years, ongoing O&M should be considered up front. A trusted O&M partner will maximize your system’s energy output and therefor the return on your investment.

Sustainable business has crossed over from purely altruistic to economic, with more Colorado businesses learning that their conscience no longer has to be at odds with their bottom line. And as the trend towards sustainable business continues to be institutionalized, “green building” is slowly becoming just “building.”

A report released earlier this year by the U.S. Green Building Council found that Colorado has the second-highest LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita in the nation, right behind the D.C. area.

“People talk about green building and it seems to come from a feel-good place, but it really has become more of a cost-savings measure, especially in areas where there are rebates, and where they can get help with the upfront costs of some of these measures,” said Meagan Forney, the Colorado Green Building Guild’s membership and outreach manager.

Examples aren’t hard to find.

The Brendle Group, a Fort Collins-based engineering and sustainability consulting firm, walked its talk in 2010 with the purchase and renovation of its headquarters at 212 W. Mulberry St.

The reconstruction, a group effort between the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority, architect Greg Fisher, general contractor Dohn Construction and Sherman Design, incorporated a full-service energy efficiency upgrade, including lighting, mechanical systems and use of almost solely recycled materials.

The project earned Brendle LEED Gold Certification in 2011 – making it one of the nearly 100 buildings nationally to receive the same status that year.

What was the price tag on this state-of-the-art green facility?

Not much more than it would’ve been without the added efficiency measures, according to the company’s website. With the help of community resources and a focus on salvaged materials and re-use rather than new construction, the project is paying for itself in terms of energy saving.

“We think what we’ve done is bust some key myths about green building, one of which is that it costs more to get a high performing, green building,” said Dave Wortman, project manager for the Brendle Group. “Not only are project design teams getting more and more accustomed to green being the way things are done, more and more building material suppliers are responding to the demand for green building.”

According to Wortman, “forward-thinking” communities, like Fort Collins, are providing those interested in green building with technical and sometimes even financial support, from help in building design to grants for green building or renewable energy projects.

Many of the sustainability measures Houska Automotive has embraced (including installing a heating system that runs off used oil, adding sky lighting and waterless urinals) required upfront funds. But the Fort Collins auto repair shop experienced some “quick payoffs” from the tax incentives and rebates it found, said L.J. Houska, vice president and office manager.

“It’s great for the environment,” said Houska, “but it’s also great for the utility bill.”

Houska collects waste oil, which is then drained into burners and used to heat the shop in the winter months.

Seven Generations Office Park, a mixed-use office building designed by RB+B Architects, was built with the intention of offering high-efficiency space at the same cost as a traditional office.

The sustainable technologies employed in its construction are numerous. The building was built largely out of local and recycled materials, and utilizes employee-controlled, under-floor air distribution to allow for more efficient heating and cooling than the traditional overhead model.

Occupancy sensors throughout the facility ensure lights are only on when in use, and when they are, they’re partially powered by the building’s built-in solar panels.

Also, the placement and size of windows were designed to maximize natural lighting, and the insulation methods reduce need for heating and cooling.

When compared with an average office building of similar characteristics, Seven Generations uses 56 percent less energy, according to Energy Star, and 84 percent less outdoor water (thanks to the Colorado-friendly landscaping).

The project received LEED Platinum certification and operates on 50 cents to 60 cents per square foot per year (conventional buildings cost between $1 and $2 per square foot).

The building leases its space for between $18 and $19 a square foot, a competitive rate made possible by an affordable construction and lo energy costs.

The building is now considered proof that sustainable business in Northern Colorado is not reserved for the 1 percent. Since its completion in 2007, many others have followed suit.

ClimateWise, the City of Fort Collins program that assists businesses in sustainability, added 54 organizations to its membership rolls last year, bringing its grand total to more than 300 companies.

Its “partners,” as the organization refers to members, run the gamut, from small cafes to statewide technology groups.

According to the ClimateWise 2011 annual report, its partners’ combined savings was more than $13 million on a variety of innovative conservation projects. They also reduced greenhouse gases by 149,000 tons — cumulatively saving $59 million since 2000.

“Our companies have exceeded our goals four years in a row,” said Kathy Collier, the ClimateWise program manager. “I’m so excited that the business community is partnering with the city. It’s amazing what we can accomplish together.”

The sluggish economy has had little affect on ClimateWise. Its consulting services are free, with the exception of a time commitment for analysis and review with ClimateWise auditors, a total of six hours at the minimum.

Most find the payoff is worth it: An expert assessment of energy, water, waste and transportation, and customized recommendations for improvement.

While both Forney and Collier agree that the timeframe and amount of savings varies greatly from business to business, receiving an energy audit (which in many cases are offered free by city programs) can help companies focus their efforts and maximize their return.

In addition to the money saved by the practices themselves, the state of Colorado offers various tax incentives and rebates for energy efficiency measures, and oftentimes cities have their own incentive programs. (Information on incentive programs can be found on the Colorado page of the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website, part of the U.S. Department of Energy. )

Looking ahead, Wortman sees the green standard being set even higher for commercial buildings, especially as resources become more available and technology continues to advance.

“As we learn better and better ways to build green buildings, the bar will continue to be set higher and how we define green building will change.

“What is called green now may not be considered so green 20 years from now,” he said. “We’re seeing more and more interest, for example, in ‘net zero’ building, where a building produces as much energy or water as it uses on an annual basis. That may be a stretch now, but 20 years from now it will probably be a lot more commonplace.”

Everyone’s seen him: The MacBook Air-carrying, vegan shoe-wearing, Prius-driving environmentalist, riding a bike more expensive than your car to work on his next solar panel/composting/reusable energy project – and just a little too excited to talk about it.

Clearly, sustainability is an issue people with no cash flow problems worry about.

Or is it?

Sustainable business has crossed over from purely altruistic to economic, with more Colorado businesses learning that their conscience no longer has to be at odds with their bottom line. And as the trend towards sustainable business continues to be institutionalized, “green building” is slowly becoming just “building.”

A…

Lucas High
A Maryland native, Lucas has worked at news agencies from Wyoming to South Carolina before putting roots down in Colorado.
Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts