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  • KARIN CONNELLY RICE | THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 Seven shades of green: An inside look at seven of Cleveland's most sustainable buildings   This week, 2,300 energy professionals flocked to Clevela

"Are we constantly behind the times living here in Ohio? "

 

*Groan* Please don't project your cynicism on us. I know that's the typical Cleveland mentality, but in this case it isn't justified:

 

http://www.clevelandgbc.org/

http://www.gcbl.org/

http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/

http://www.clevelandgbc.org/cec/

http://www.ecocitycleveland.org/ecologicaldesign/ecovillage/town_homes/w58townhome.html/

 

Green building education plus BEER!!!

http://www.burningriverfest.org/

 

And the first incarnation of the Engineering Green Buildings Conference was held in Cleveland (now in its third year, this time in Austin). Where is this tradeshow based? Right here in the 216.

http://www.egbregistration.com/

 

 

yea cleveland is up to date as far as green building is concerned.  dont forget Case's new dorms, a $100+ million development is all LEED certified as well

All new CSU buildings are green.  There are also some rumors the the proposed East Bank project would include some green building aspects.

The Lazerous Bldg. in downtown Columbus is one of the largest green renovations in the country.

"Are we constantly behind the times living here in Ohio? "

 

Hold the groaning- Sorry I'm not meaning to sound negative. Far from it, it's a legitimate question. Name the biggest current projects in Cleveland.  For the most part you don't hear anything in the local media about LEED-ratings, etc. 

 

Yes I am aware of the great groups like Ecocity, and I am involved locally....Perhaps I should've rephrased the question "will Ohio consumers fuel the trend toward green living?"  My personal opinion is that the answer is no, that the majority in the state are fairly conservative in this regard.

 

I, like all of us on this forum, want Ohio to be recognised as being at the forefront of new and better technologies.

The Case dorms arent big??  Im pretty sure the rest of the development phases for it include LEED as well...

universities are the current big project construction boom in Cleveland and most of them are green buildings... 

For the most part you don't hear anything in the local media about LEED-ratings, etc. 

 

Exactly.  I think we are doing some locally, and there are certainly many groups dedicated to the effort, but there is little publicity about the projects or the benefits. 

 

Every statement from the mayor's office should talk about these issues.  The county needs to constantly talk about the issues.  Builders need to talk about the short term and long term savings and benefits and what they have done and are doing.  I also think that the when tax abatements in cleveland are visited again, there needs to be a "green" requirement for a tax abatement - anywhere from 0 if nothing is done to 12 or 15 year or varied % if more is done to reduce runoff, reduce energy consumption, create energy, etc.

  • 3 months later...

I wanted to bring this thread back to life because I had an idea that came back to me tonight. Here it is....wouldn't it be cool if there was a Cleveland rooftop garden/greenroof network? What I keep thinking is, there are all these old buildings downtown with flat roofs that could be adapted to extensive greenroofs, which are less complicated, heavy and expensive. They are also less work in the long run.

 

The thing is, I'm no expert at this. I suppose I should write an e-mail to GCBL, et. al. about this. I just think it'd be so cool if Cleveland was able to have a whole grassroots, greenroof project to cover all the buildings downtown. I think they would make a big impression on the country and it would be good for us here!

There was a feature in Metropolis Magazine a couple months back that asked "How Green is Your City?" 

 

http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2286

 

There was a map (I'll post later) that showed concentrations of green roofs.  We are lagging a little, but there is definitely lots of momentum building up behind sustainable building and design here (see all above posts!), including the recent talk of designing green bulkheads (there's a thread on that...).  Green roofs should follow, especially as examples are set throughout the city and country that show the economic benefits of going green!

Cool links!!

 

I didn't mean to sound negative on Cleveland. I've been following this topic a little, so I had a hunch that most cities were a little slow to engage it. That's the good part! I just had this vision in my head of Cleveland of really taking advantage of this and moving forward ahead of other cities. We could really start building a "green" reputation, maybe making us a Portland of the Midwest, which I think is definitely attainable (rather than trying to be NYC).

 

I was calculating it out in my head, though... Apparently the cheapest they can be built is for around $14/sq. foot. How big is a very average sized roof? 10,000 sq. feet at the least? That could be some sticker shock... I guess I'll e-mail GCBL. I'd really like to get some hands-on experience building one of these.

here is an example of requiring green building techniques when city money is involved.  this is what i think cleveland should do with tax abatements.

 

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4622261

 

SLC embraces green building

New ordinance

By Heather May

The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated:11/08/2006 01:34:51 AM MST

 

Private developers who tap Salt Lake City green must build green.

 

    City Council members Tuesday night unanimously adopted an ordinance requiring builders of commercial structures, apartments and condos to meet national environmental building standards if they are funded by city loans, grants or tax rebates.

 

    The ordinance also endorses Mayor Rocky Anderson's executive order mandating that municipal buildings - such as a new police and fire administration building, fire station, east-side police precinct and Sorenson Unity Center - also meet Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) standards. Anderson signed that LEED order in July 2005.

   

For more, click the link   

  [email protected]

  • 4 weeks later...

I wanted to bring this thread back to life because I had an idea that came back to me tonight. Here it is....wouldn't it be cool if there was a Cleveland rooftop garden/greenroof network? What I keep thinking is, there are all these old buildings downtown with flat roofs that could be adapted to extensive greenroofs, which are less complicated, heavy and expensive. They are also less work in the long run.

 

That's not entirely correct.  Green roofs can be much heavier than "standard" roofs.  Soil and plants weigh a heck of a lot more than metal roof deck and an elastomeric membrane.  On top of that, design snow load for a roof is typically only 30 psf.  If your green roof weighs more than that, the roof structure is not likely able to support it, and would need to be altered or reinforced at great expense.  Typically speaking, the capital costs of a green roof are higher than for a standard roof; the real cost savings is realized in the operations of the building.

The legislation described below has since passed the D.C. Council.  Mayor Anthony Williams is expected to sign it into law before leaving office.

 

D.C. Moves to Become Pioneer In Forcing 'Green' Construction

 

By Nikita Stewart

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, November 16, 2006; Page A01

 

The District is poised to become the first major city in the country to require that private developers build environmentally friendly projects that incorporate energy-saving measures.

 

By 2012, most large construction in the city -- commercial and city-funded residential -- would have to meet the standards, if the D.C. Council gives final approval to a new bill next month.

 

For more, click the link

www.washingtonpost.com

  • 4 months later...

Greener pastures in the City

BY NICOLE HAMILTON | [email protected]

THE DOWNTOWNER

 

CINCINNATI - Green is in. Its the color on the minds of Cincinnati developers and retailers, students and executives.

 

As politicians and scientists agree that climate change is upon us, many in our community are finding ways to live a more environmentally conscious life. Look around the city, and you will see new businesses aimed at fostering sustainable living. You may also notice buildings being renovated using eco-friendly materials, and a few new social groups designed to connect people who think green.

 

For more, click the link

 

Gratitude in Motion is located at 268 Ludlow Ave. in Clifton. Gratitude Restaurant will open soon in the same location. For more information call (888) 899-9642 or visit www.gratitudeinmotion.com.

Hey, great thread. I'm doing an independent study on what cities can do to incentivize green building and this is a nice start.

 

Also, one of my projects at work will be incorporating a green roof on a renovated library. Fun stuff.

Building 'green'

Custom-built homes take advantage of latest materials and techniques

BY AMY HOWELL / [email protected]

April 22, 2007

 

Have you ever thought about how the construction of your home might affect gasoline consumption, the local aquifer or landfills?

 

Probably not - yet.

 

"Custom houses are always on the cutting edge of trends, so we get to see what's going to be happening," says John Hueber, president of Loveland-based John Hueber Homes.

 

For more, click the link

For more information

U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes rating system: www.usgbc.org

 

John Hueber Homes: www.johnhueberhomes.com

  • 2 weeks later...

Green building blooms at home

Trend enters residential realm as city offers incentives

BY LAURA BAVERMAN | [email protected]

May 4, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - The buyer of an Observatory Avenue home being built by John Hueber Homes may trade granite for stone, hardwood for bamboo flooring and drywall for full walls of windows.

 

These energy efficient measures, as well as a geothermal heating system, long-burning fluorescent lighting and use of indigenous plants will help Hueber earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification and tax incentives from the city of Cincinnati. And he also hopes they help him sell the house.

 

For more, click the link

  • 1 month later...

It's growing more and more popular...and LEED buildings (green building) are starting to pop up everywhere.  Please use this thread as the place for discussion about LEED/Green Building policies and programs across the state.  Discuss the various projects that are using LEED standards and how they are/are not taking advantage of the programs across the state.

The new store "Park + Vine" in Cincinnati (Over-the-Rhine) is going for LEED certification. 

Good idea for thread. Thanks

Merged with existing topic.

 

damn...I searched it and everything.  Nothing turned up; I had thought that there was a topic (especially since I posted in it already), but I just must have missed it.  Sorry grasscat  :oops:

we looked at doing a green roof on our rehab project but the money was nuts (for a new roof the money was nuts anyway, so I should say the green option was quadruple nuts). There were a few programs available, but our timing wasn't right. We ended up going with higher grade insulation as our green component, which worked out very well.

 

Anyway, it would be nice to put "easier to get" incentives out there for putting things like green roofs on commercial buildings. It's not easy to do without killing your profit margin if you just go ahead and put one on.

Looks like the new condo project in Ohio City will have a green roof.

Green building tax incentives at The Edge

June 13, 2007 | LIVE GREEN CINCINNATI

 

The Edge condo project in downtown announced it's intention to be the first to take advantage of the tax incentives offered by the city to green buildings.

 

Specifically, the city is offering a 15 year, 100% tax abatement to significantly rehabbed or new residential building which are built to meet LEED green building standards. The abatement can be worth up to $500,000 per year. The city is also offering incentives to commercial building projects that are build to LEED standards and enrolled with the US Green Building Council.

 

For more, click the link

damn...I searched it and everything.  Nothing turned up; I had thought that there was a topic (especially since I posted in it already), but I just must have missed it.  Sorry grasscat  :oops:

 

Oh...I wasn't calling you out.  I just put that there so that the thread would make sense to someone who started reading it at the beginning.

 

Carry on.

 

  • 4 weeks later...

NKU, UC buildings go green

New construction is planet-friendly

BY HANA BIELIAUSKAS | SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE

 

WASHINGTON - It's getting easier to be green.

 

The University of Cincinnati is using environmentally friendly techniques in its new construction projects. Its student center and Varsity Village athletic facilities already are certified as "green" by the U.S. Green Building Council. The recreation center is undergoing the certification process. That means they are using environmentally friendly techniques and tactics.

 

For more, click the link

  • 1 month later...

New city schools required to meet 'green' standards

BY BEN FISCHER | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

September 11, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - More than 22 new school buildings in Cincinnati will be required to meet high standards for environmentally friendly "green" design, under a new set of rules approved by the Cincinnati school board Monday.

 

For more, click the link

  • 3 weeks later...

UC rec center earns LEED certification

September 26, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

 

UPTOWN - The University of Cincinnati's campus recreation center, completed in 2006, on Wednesday received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

For more, click the link

Energy-saving goal for new schools

Ohio to kick in money for district

BY BEN FISCHER | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

October 4, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - Officials in charge of Cincinnati Public Schools' massive rebuilding project say they'll be able to install more environmentally friendly "green" features in every construction project because the state of Ohio has pledged to help pay for the upgrades.

 

For more, click the link

From the Miami Student:

 

Business school attempts to create MU's 1st 'environmentally efficient' building

Rachel Perron

 

The Farmer School of Business hopes to lead the way in making Miami University a greener campus.

 

Farmer Hall has applied for LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and as construction on the new facility nears completion, Miami hopes to also be near to completing its first environmentally

efficient building.

 

For more, click the link

www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2007/09/28/FrontPage/Business.School.Attempts.To.Create.Mus.1st.environmentally.Efficient.Building-2998634-page2.shtml]http://media.www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2007/09/28/FrontPage/Business.School.Attempts.To.Create.Mus.1st.environmentally.Efficient.Building-2998634-page2.shtml

  • 3 weeks later...

Greener by design

Standards spur environmentally friendly building

BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

October 20, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - As global warming and soaring oil prices make national headlines, the demand for "green" building design is growing. Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky architects and engineers have seen a big increase in the call for more energy-efficient building compared to just a few years ago.

 

In part, the growth has been fueled by the adoption of an industry standard known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

 

For more, click the link


PHOTO: The University of Cincinnati's recently completed student recreation center, designed by KZF Design, is the region's largest green-certified building, at 350,000 square feet.

GARY LANDERS/THE ENQUIRER

 

PHOTO: Green space was included in the design of UC's new student recreation center. A reservoir under the traffic circle collects rainwater.

GARY LANDERS/THE ENQUIRER

 

PHOTO: Windows, skylights and an open design illuminate the pool at the University of Cincinnati's student recreation center.

GARY LANDERS/THE ENQUIRER

  • 2 weeks later...

Crain's:

 

Shaker Heights goes green

By HARRIET TRAMER

 

4:30 am, November 5, 2007

 

In 2003, Shaker Heights decided to take energy efficiency a step further, treating it as a community initiative rather than an individual effort.

 

The Go Green Program aims to make home interiors as green at the natural infrastructure for which Shaker Heights has become known, according to Wesley Walker, a rehabilitation specialist with the city.

 

For more, click the link

Inhaitat:

 

First LEED Platinum Carbon Neutral Building!

by Jorge

 

leopold2.jpg

 

Carbon-neutral buildings are not new news, but the first-ever LEED-platinum carbon neutral building certainly is. The Aldo Leopold Foundation Headquarters, located in Wisconsin, has been certified as the the first ever, fully LEED-platinum certified, carbon neutral building in the world, making it the greenest building ever built, with zero footprint and great design.

http://www.aldoleopold.org/legacycenter/

 

leopold.jpg

 

The building is located in Fairfield, Wisconsin. Built for $4 million dollars, the 12,000 square foot center is as green as they come, with the project obtaining 61 out of the 69 available LEED points. The building was designed by Kubala-Washatko Architects and Boldt Construction.

 

The building produces 15% more energy than what it consumes by using 198-panel 39.6 kilowatt solar electric system, the second largest in Wisconsin. To save on energy costs, heating and cooling will be done via a radiant system installed within the concrete floors. Proper insulation of the building, use of geothermal energy, good passive design to allow for daylighting and heating during winter and shading during summer, cross ventilation, and operable windows all contribute towards achieving this remarkable goal. Even the design of the site was carefully thought out to properly differentiate between high use and low use areas, thus diminishing the wasted energy required to heat or cool sections of the complex which would not be needed.

 

leopold-3.jpg

 

Energy wasn’t the only focus in this remarkable building. Built to honor the vision of famed conservationist Algo Leopold, the center has not only been awarded LEED platinum certification, but will be honored by the Forest Stewardship Council during the third annual Designing and Building with FSC Award at the 2007 GreenBuild conference and expo in Chicago, for its use of sustainable timber for almost 100% of its structure.

 

“This building does things that people are dreaming about,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president of the U.S. Green Building Council. “There are people out there saying, ‘Somehow, somewhere a building will be able to do that.’ This building is doing it today.”

 

+ The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

 

 

leopold-2.jpg

 

leopoldcenter1.jpgl

Mayor Frank Jackson would set 'green' bar for rehab, new construction projects

Jackson raising environmental bar for city projects

 

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Henry J. Gomez

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson wants an environment-friendly return for the city's investment in new and rehabilitated homes.

 

Jackson is expected to announce today a plan that would require home builders and contractors to meet so-called "green" standards in exchange for loans, tax breaks and other financial perks the city already provides.

 

For more, click the link

www.plaindealer.com

Here is what Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson proposes as an environment-friendly building policy:

 

Single-family rehabilitation projects: Would need to meet Ohio Home Weatherization Assistance Program standards - air leakage reduction and improved insulation and ductwork. Also would have to adhere to federal guidelines for energy-efficient hot water tanks and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. See odod.state.oh.us; www.energystar.gov 

 

New single family homes: Would have to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards, including energy and water conservation measures. See enterprisecommunity.org

 

New or rehabilitated multifamily homes: Would have to meet either Enterprise Green Communities standards or be certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. See usgbc.org/leed

 

SOURCE: City of Cleveland

 

Cleveland.com

 

The official press release from the City will come out today.

Those requirements are for use of City incentives (tax abatement, grants, etc.) and are not conditions for receiving permits, right?

Correct.

Soapbox alert!

 

So, how can the developers complain then?  It's a level playing field.  If you want the $, you've got to step your game up a bit to keep your profit margin.  In the end, Cleveland is competing with the 'burbs and more importantly, with the rest of the region and country.  If Cleveland's housing stock is more attractive, well-built, sustainable, and cheaper to maintain that that of Columbus, Pittsburgh, Detroit, etc., then we're all better off.  Plus it contributes to the abstract notion in people's minds of our city as a place with an eye towards the future and that isn't lagging behind the nation in terms of advancing building design & technology and concern for the wellbeing of others and future generations.

imo, this is a no brainer. 

 

there may be some initial, upfront costs of doing things differently, but after a few units are built and the builders understand where to get materials, how to install them, etc., the costs should drop immediately. 

 

i think it shows more the mentality of resisting change than a real attack on the benefits for all involved of instituting this policy. 

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Cincinnati's “LEED”ership Role in Environmentally Friendly Building

BY CHRIS BORTZ | UPDATE

December 2007

 

CINCINNATI - Last year, Cincinnati City Council created legisla-tion, sponsored by Coun-cilmember Laketa Cole and myself, to encourage environmentally friendly building in Cincinnati through tax and other financial incentives.

 

For more, click the link

 

Chris Bortz is a City of Cincinnati Council Member and is the Planning Partnership Vice-chair. He can be reached at [email protected]

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