The subject of "green" building has been brought up on several threads within this forum, but conversation has not really expanded much beyond the project at hand.  It seems to me that every major urban renovation and new construction project - statewide - should be striving to meet these criteria and that the state, counties and municipalities should work towards making "green" building principals more attractive to developers and potentially mandatory.  This means new ordinances, new laws and new incentives. 

 

This would serve to make Ohio's urban markets more competitive and put them on the map with places like California, Portland, Chicago, and elsewhere where progressive standards have led to more sustainable and viable communities.  In fact, public agencies should take the lead in abiding by these standards.  Chicago, Portland and others have governments that have committed themselves to setting the example for the private market.  And in the end, by many standards, everyone wins!

 

From the U.S. Green Building Council:

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148

 

What is LEED-ND?

 

The U.S. Green Building Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Natural Resources Defense Council—three organizations which represent that nation's leaders among progressive design professionals, builders, planners, developers, and the environmental community—have come together to develop LEED for Neighborhood Developments (LEED-ND).

 

This rating system will integrate the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. Whereas other LEED products focus primarily on green building practices, with only a few credits regarding site selection, LEED-ND will emphasize smart growth aspects and neighborhood design of development while still incorporating a selection of the most important green building practices. Guided by the Smart Growth Network's ten principles of smart growth and the Charter for New Urbanism it will include compact design, proximity to transit, mixed use, mixed housing type, and pedestrian- and bicycle- friendly design. In short, LEED-ND will create a label which could serve as a concrete signal of, and incentive for, better location, design, and construction of neighborhoods and buildings. Download the LEED-ND Fact Sheet for more information.

 

For more about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), visit http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=40&

 

For more about the U.S. Green Building Council, visit http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=1

thanks for the info.

There should definately be incentives for developers to develop in this kind of fashion.  I am all for LEED certified bldgs. and am glad to see the trend growing here in Cincinnati (mainly UC).  Our environment is sooo important we cannot continue to allow unintelligent developments to threaten the planet we live on.

I say show the way of green thinking, building, and way of life by getting really on board with the wind generators on lake erie. Forget the NIMBY, I dont like the view, what about the sea gulls types.

The Giant Eagle in Brunswick, built in 2004-2005, was the first grocery store in the nation to build an LEED facility.

 

http://www.gianteagle.com/main/article13.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=1161273&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1156539

 

Although it's LEED-NC and not ND, I think it's a good harbinger and evidence that this sort of environmentally conscious development can find a place in Ohio. On the down side, I haven't heard of a glut of projects following immediately in the Giant Eagle footsteps, but I remain optimistic.

The way to get developers on board with green building is to (pardon the cheesey quote) "show them the money". Once they understand that the extra investment in initial construction will reap benefits for their clients and 1. increase their properties' appeal, and 2. show tenants that they care about issues like indoor air quality, etc., they'll see why it pays (over time rather than up front) to be concious of LEED certification.

 

 

I am glad that Wolstein is looking into this.  We have one successful project--EcoVillage.  I believe that it sold pretty well. Considering that it is in a dicey neighborhood, it appears that people are willing to take a little risk to live in a green-house.  If the green residential units were available in more attractive locations, I don't see why they wouldn't sell.  There are some more up front costs, but the total monthly payments are significantly lower due to the cheap utility costs.  When my wife and I were looking to buy, we were astounded by the $27 monthly gas bill.  If the immediate neighborhood had been a little bit friendlier, we would have purchased a home there. 

 

(but, we are definitely excited to move from the Heights into our Ohio City Victorian in late spring!)

For anyone who's really interested in this stuff and how to make it work, check out LISC's Experts Online series on Green Development (3 parts).  The first part, "Financing Green Development - More Sensible and Feasible than You Think," can be found here:

 

http://www.lisc.org/content/publications/detail/968/

 

These sessions were on-line forums that are now available as free downloads.  Very informative!