Archives: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Thursday, November 10, 2005
On Nov. 10, 2005, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) President Rick Fedrizzi will present leadership awards to 10 Chinese real estate developers and government leaders for their “pioneering work in transforming the world’s largest building industry.” The developers, who represent some of China’s largest developers, have one thing in common: they are the first to pursue USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. For this reason, this event, which will take place during the Greenbuild Conference and Expo in Atlanta, represents an important milestone in China’s acceptance of green buildings, in general, and USGBC’s LEED rating system, in particular. ...
The building industry accounts for approximately one-third of China’s electric power, and the demolition of old buildings and construction of new ones contributes to a host of environmental problems. As a result, certain progressive cities are beginning to offer financial incentives to developers that use energy-efficient building technologies. For example, the Shenzhen municipal government offers interest-free mortgages for hotels that install thermal ice storage systems — a technology that shifts energy consumption to off-peak hours. These measures send a strong signal to real estate developers that the government is beginning to throw its weight behind environmental protection. ...
In the private sector, the story is a one-liner: LEED. There are currently 10 projects pursuing green building certification and all are either LEED registered or (pre-)certified. The USGBC certification is increasingly seen as the international standard, as well as the rating system that can bring Chinese projects the most international recognition. ...