Saturday, January 28, 2006
White House Summit on Federal Sustainable Buildings
This is a summary of reports covering topics from the Summit held on January 24-25 at the White House Conference Center.17 federal agencies sign “memorandum of understanding” on sustainability
Nearly two years in the making, the “MOU” commits federal agencies controlling 75% of the government’s 500,000 buildings and 3.4 billion sf of space to implement “common strategies” for high-performance and sustainable buildings. The signers: Agriculture, Council on Environmental Quality, Defense, Energy, EPA, GSA, HHS, Homeland Security, HUD, Interior, Justice, NASA, Office of Personnel Management, State, Transportation, TVA, and Veterans Affairs.
‘Leave no building behind,’ urges CEQ’s Hannegan
Bryan Hannegen, chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, told 200 federal officials at the White House Summit on Federal Sustainable Buildings that the January 24 memorandum committing 17 federal agencies to sustainable building design was “a big deal for us” at CEQ. “It has been hard-fought, fiercely negotiated, and it’s not just about green buildings, but about making the federal government as efficient as possible,” said Hannegan. “I challenge you to leave no building behind—no more energy use than is necessary, or any waste of taxpayer money.”
Surgeon General: Green buildings could save $75 billion in healthcare costs
The U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, speaking at the White House Summit on Sustainable Federal Buildings, said that improving building environments could result in $75 billion savings in annual healthcare costs nationally. He cited data from a report that 1) allergies and asthma are spread by poor indoor air quality; 2) mold growth affects the upper respiratory tract; 3) poverty and poor housing conditions negatively affect health. He noted that one in five U.S. schools has IAQ problems.
EPA’s Luna cites long-term savings from sustainable design
Luis A. Luna, assistant administrator in EPA’s Office of Administration and Resources Management, told the White House Summit on Federal Sustainable Buildings that achieving a 20% savings in energy costs could yield an $8 per square foot savings over the life of the building. “EPA has found that initial investments in good mechanical systems have payback in 3-5 years,” said Luna.
Developer Durst to feds: “Examine your buildings every year”
Douglas Durst, co-president of New York development firm The Durst Organization, urged 200 federal officials at the White House Summit on Federal Sustainable Buildings to commission their buildings. “We commission our buildings constantly,” he said. “You need to examine your buildings every year.” In the works for Durst: the 580-unit “Helena” condo high-rise (seeking LEED Gold) and the 2.3 million square-foot Bank of America at One Bryant Park (seeking LEED Platinum).