The Nation Goes Green in Response to Stimulus Cash

I attended the Colorado USGBC Conference – Sustainability ’09 about a month ago. It was a great opportunity to hear the latest about the new Green Building LEED rating system, v.3.0 2009. Other highlights included a joint session with Tim Guiterman from the Governor’s Energy Office and Mike Lowell, the Region 8 Federal Building manager. They discussed the Government STIMULUS and how this will bring jobs and growth to Colorado.

Region 8 got $5.5 Billion for Building Projects: $1 Billion for New Construction & $4.5 Billion to upgrade Existing Buildings. They are all required to be LEED SILVER standards. For opportunities to be involved in these projects see http://fedbizopps.cos.com they have a goal to work with Small Businesses whenever possible.

Colorado Department of Energy has $3.1 Billion plus there is another $2.6 Billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in a Block Grant. While the money is starting to flow into the state, how will this translate to those in the green building profession or to homeowners who want a more efficient home?

www.usgbc.org/leedv3 MORE ON LEED www.gbci.org (MORE ON BECOMING A LEED PROFESSIONAL)

In the City of Denver ½ of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions are from BUILDINGS

35% Commercial/Industrial & 14% Residential www.greenprintdenver.org

In Colorado, GSA owns 89 federal buildings totaling 6.79 million rental square feet (RSF) and it leases approximately 4.08 million RSF in 157 buildings for a total of 10.877 million RSF of workspace. Approximately 274 GSA employees manage and maintain this federal workspace, the majority of which is office and warehouse space. The primary tenants include:

• U.S. Geological Survey
• Bureau of Reclamation
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Bureau of Land Management

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=19345

Details are just coming out on exact dollar amounts and additional federal guidance on how to direct recovery funds for renewable energy, energy efficiency, weatherization and new energy research projects within Colorado. Check the Colorado GEO’s recovery website at www.colorado.gov/energy/recovery in the coming weeks for updates.

For now, the word on the street is that Green Building IS becoming mainstream. Thanks Brad Pitt.

“Gen Y wants high-tech convenience and communication, walkability, green building standards and diversity. They'll sacrifice space, and some will even pay more, to incorporate those qualities into their lives, real estate experts say." - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution