The Westlake Academy of Dallas-Fort Worth looks like a traditional school but don’t let the natural stone walls fool you.  Westlake Academy wants to be green and greener and then some.  The local director of facilities and recreation summed up the mindset of the school and the surrounding community; “We want to be good stewards of the environment.”What Westlake has found is that the students want the same thing.  “Green is becoming the new democracy.  It is just the right thing to do.” Westlake was designed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification and has taken sustainability a little further each year.  A recent initiative calls for replacing all exterior lighting with compact fluorescent bulbs that use 75 percent less energy than the conventional 75-watt bulbs previously used.What Westlake is experiencing is typical for environmentally friendly buildings and campuses.  What started as a design and concept that was somewhat unfamiliar to the faculty, administration and student body has expanded into a way of life.  Now, the community is embracing green programs.Since initiating its sustainable programs, the school has now installed a new drip irrigation system and has planted local greenscape that requires less water and can tolerate dry conditions.  The new irrigation system should reduce water usage by 75%.The school was renovated six years ago.  After a meeting with a green consultant, the administration rolled up their sleeves and sought innovative ways to involve the students and all school employees in the sustainable effort.Every year a new initiative is launched.  Students have been educated in the advantages of sustainability and have pro-actively engaged the concept.  Westlake has a stellar recycling program that works in every classroom and hallway on the campus.A new arts and science center is scheduled to open sometime in August.  The building is awaiting the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating, but is fully committed to eco-friendly practices.Schools are finding that LEED® certifications not only are environmentally worthwhile, but they help to create a constructive mindset for students.  The message is clear.  Save the planet and everyone wins.

More Green At Westlake Academy is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

Plans have been announced to replace The Parkland County Public Hospital in Dallas.  The plans are exciting, environmentally friendly and socially responsible.  Everyone connected to the project is enthusiastically embracing the hospital’s new green philosophy.Parkland’s president and chief executive, Dr. Ron Anderson, announced the $1.27 billion construction project on April 22, 2009.  The new facility will be located on more than 65 acres across from the current Parkland Hospital on Harry Hines Boulevard.  Construction will begin in early 2010 and should be completed by 2014.Excited administrators, architects and planners have begun spreading the green word.  The building hopes to accomplish a silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system.Mitch Paradise is with Corgan Associates of Dallas and will head the architectural team.  “There are a lot of misconceptions about going green and the expense of doing it.  If you do it right, there are great efficiencies, such as lower utility costs.”Parkland has many green initiatives.  One immediate goal is to reduce the amount of materials hauled to local landfills.  A robust recycling program has been recommended by the architects, who have also designed a system to reduce water consumption by 20%.To encourage employee cooperation, the hospital will install bike racks and provide showers and changing areas for employees who ride instead of drive to work.  Employee mindset is important to Parkland and the health care facility is doing everything within its power and budget to create a happy, healthy workplace.Under the LEED® rating system, the biking facilities earn one LEED® point.  Specific parking for fuel-efficient vehicles earns another point, while positioning the building to capitalize on the natural lighting can earn a third point.Jim Henry is a lead designer with HDR Architecture whom is cooperating with Corgan Associates on the $44 million design.  Henry is an energy efficiency expert and says, “Energy efficiency is a big part of a sustainable design.  Having access to natural light and views of nature are part of having a very healthy building.”

Big D Get Big Green Hospital is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

When proud Austin, Texas, passed a resolution that municipal buildings must accomplish a US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification, the city became the first in the country to embrace green construction.  That was in the year 2000.Dallas followed in January 2003 with its own commitment to LEED® certification and Green Building Programs.  An October 2007 report entitled “Toward a Sustainable Dallas” is filled with facts, figures and plans for the greening of the city.  The report also provides a healthy endorsement for the LEED® certification and rating system.In June 2005, Houston joined the green and LEED® construction party.  The city originally authorized the LEED® certifications for new and replacement facilities that occupied a building of 10,000 square feet or more.Since the original green and LEED® commitments, the cities have come to realize that not only do LEED® certifications make sense; they save taxpayer money and reduce the environmental stress as well as create healthier working spaces for city employees.  The Obama administration has reached the same conclusion and has loaded the stimulus package with green and LEED® certified requirements and incentives.Austin’s Dell Children’s Medical Center, designed by Karlsberger and construction by the White Construction firm of Austin, opened June 30, 2007 as the newest member of the Seton Family of Hospitals.  The $200 million project set its sights on the US Green Building Council’s highest rating, the revered platinum LEED® certification.  Austin LEED® certification professional Aide Uzgiris remarked.  “It couldn’t be a more appropriate application for LEED® strategies.  Children, especially sick children, are more sensitive than adults to the effects of chemicals.”The esteemed platinum LEED® certification calls for an 80% compliance score for energy and environmental design and implementation.  Uzgiris elaborated that, “the materials encouraged by LEED® not only tend to be naturally attractive, they reduce the amount of toxic chemicals inside the building, contributing to healthier indoor air.”Sounds like a perfect design for a children’s hospital or any other hospital or work environment for that matter.  Developers and building owners should consult with LEED® professionals to better understand the many advantages to certification.

Texas&LEED® – A Mighty Good Fit is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

Sustainable construction is responsible construction.  When the U.S. Green Building Council launched its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification programs in 2000, the focus was clearly on commercial development.  While many Texas cities, including Dallas in 2003, have adopted the LEED® program as a standard for achieving commercial sustainability, the LEED® system is now being used by residential developers and builders as wellAnd, consumers are liking the changes, the developers and the new home construction.  At the Little Forest Hills area of Dallas, builder David Hurt has built a model LEED® certified home at 8802 Eustis Avenue.  Hurt was determined to construct a contemporary house that complied with environmental, economical and social sustainability.  It just seemed the responsible way to go.Hurt is to be congratulated for working with Cunningham Architects to conceive a 2300 square feet residence that is 30% more energy efficient than a traditional home of similar size and whose monthly energy cost will be less than $100.00.  Hurt has utilized green concepts to exceed required energy codes.With environmental conservancy and household budgets, the little things add up.  A contemporary landscape design requires little water and no lawn mower.  The deck and another balcony capture the preserved pecan trees.  All appliances are Star Energy rated and all building materials were constructed locally.Hurt installed efficient Carrier heat pumps and Pella windows.  The builder also was careful to use a radiant attic barrier.  The exterior features six shades of earthy green stucco, which works well environmentally and aesthetically.LEED® points are also awarded for proximity to mass transit and public areas.  Hurt’s new home is close to both White Rock Lake and the downtown Dallas area, creating a nice blend of accessibility and natural recreation.

In Dallas, One House at a Time is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

The purpose of the October 2007 report entitled “Toward a Sustainable Dallas” (TASD) strikes so many important chords. The report is based on information accumulated by the City Council after its January 2003 commitment to green construction and LEED® certification.The Council’s report has four stated purposes:•    Demonstrate the environmental impact of buildings and the benefits of green building.•    Provide an overview of LEED® and Green Building Programs•    Provide an overview of the Dallas Green Building Program•    Provide recommendations for implementation of a green building program for all residential and non-residential construction in the City of DallasThe comprehensive plan states much relevant information.•    300 billion square feet of buildings in the US are the single largest contributor to global warming in the country•    48% of all energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the US annually is from buildings•    76% of all power plant generated electricity is used to operate buildings globally.•    At the current rate of usage, the US is projected to need 1,300 to 1,900 new power plants over the next 20 years or 1 per week.The last statistic is glaringly unrealistic, but highlights the severity of the dilemma.  So, Texans and all Americans need to change their energy consumption habits.  This is just one of the reasons the US Green Building Council developed its benchmark Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification program.  The Dallas City Council recognized the program’s merits back in January 2003 and made a more pronounced commitment with the 2007 report.Not only are the LEED® certifications taking on energy efficiency, they help to assure employees of a healthy work environment.  Recently, not only public projects but also private developers have begun to realize the value of LEED® certification.  The program has expanded so much that now LEED® certifications carry value rewards because employees want to work in LEED® certified properties.Both new and existing buildings can apply for LEED® certification.  The process is a win-win-win scenario whereby the building, the employees and the environment benefit.

Toward a Sustainable Dallas is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

We are all guilty.  We have stood by and seen and heard green conversations work their way through cocktail and dinner parties.  We have considered the futures of our children and grandchildren and then gone about our way wondering what will become of the environment of our offspring.  The good news is that it is not too late to do something about it by putting that cocktail conversation to work.  The better news is that going green saves money and can even reap profits for those who join the green movement now.Cities like Dallas, San Jose and Los Angeles have adopted green initiatives that not only address health and environmental issues, but also reduce taxpayer burdens by increasing energy efficiency and reducing the strain on what is now recognized to be a diminishing flow of natural resources.  Essentially, green building programs are now accomplishing every investor’s goal; a significant and high rate of return on investment.Los Angeles is replacing 140,000 streetlights and will generate $60 million in taxpayer savings.  San Jose’s new green airport renovation program has saved taxpayers more than $35,000 in just five months just by increasing the efficiency of the cooling system.  Around the country similar success stories emphasize the need to stress the importance of LEED® certifications and LEED® ratings.The LEED® rating system sets the benchmark for design, construction and efficiency in six areas:•    New construction•    Existing buildings•    Commercial interiors•    Core and Shell•    Residential interiors•    Neighborhood developmentThink what a different world it would be if every new building achieved a silver LEED® rating.  That seems such a practical and reasonable goal, yet less than 7500 exiting buildings in the U.S. are LEED® certified.Improvements in green design have begun to capitalize on energy savings and the timing could not be better.  In a struggling economy, starving for jobs, the stimulus package places a high emphasis on green programs, green jobs and green savings.  We know through experience that entrepreneurs will follow the money trail and that the money trail leads through green programs straight to the bottom line.  When green projects and the bottom line merge, good things will happen.

Is Green Building Cocktail Conversation? is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

It’s snowing in Texas and the weather seesaws between freezing and mid-70s even in the far south in the spring time. Flooding is happening all over the continental U.S. So what does that have to do with global warming? Everything. It is time to realize that the severe climate craziness is a direct result of the destruction of our atmosphere for decades—and time to clean it up.LEED® is intent on helping Texas businesses do their part in helping restore the environment to its equilibrium. It doesn’t matter if that business is in Houston or Dallas they are there with their willingness to help whenever called helping to find ways to use sustainable energy in product production, and teaching how to green up offices, warehouses and plants. While it is every man and woman’s duty to take charge in every way they can businesses have the greatest impact on the environment simply due to their sheer size in many cases, and the types of products created as well as how they are made.Even the little businessperson can make changes that have a big impact on the world around them. Encourage carpooling and give incentives for employees who show eco-responsibility as well as implementing enviro-friendly methods from product creation all the way down to the light bulbs in your offices. Be an example by driving a hybrid and using recycled products whenever possible.Travel green—Continental, Virgin, EasyJet, and Lufthansa are all eco-friendly airlines doing their best to conserve fuel and use alternatives to stretch fuel use. Inquire about the hotel’s policy on eco-friendly practices when traveling on business.Every time you choose a company or service produced with sustainable energy you take a big leap forward in improving the world we live in. Pass it on, too. Let others know how you feel about green businesses and homes and you’ll set a good example while gaining the admiration of consumers as well.

The Environment’s Gone Crazy: What Can a Business Do About That? is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

The green standard for the city of Dallas’ buildings already existed previously, however this new requirement is for privately-owned commercial buildings of 10,000 square feet.

LEED is now required for Dallas buildings over 10K square feet is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

Plenty of environmental clean-up is on the horizon for new President Barack Obama who is stepping into the toxic waste left behind by the Bush administration.Bold strokes were taken by Obama, one of which is the capping of large giveaways of tax payer dough afforded to monolithic oil and gas companies.  Obama’s new budget suggests a limit for greenhouse emissions restricting some of the offenders from the free reign they have been rewarded with over the past decades.Furthermore, Obama’s budget invades the Yucca Mountain territory where the Bush administration turned a blind eye to loosely applied regulations and restrictions regarding the dumping of toxic and nuclear waste in Nevada.  A number of issues regarding the transport, aging and disposal of nuclear waste remain unresolved in addition to the rights of Shoshone natives who are potential victims of radioactive waste the DOE plans to dump on their land.To date, no one has specified how tons of nuclear waste is to be transported without leaving a trail of radioactive fumes throughout American air, or has anyone explained how the same toxic entrails will be permanently sealed and rendered harmless throughout the ages of relative peace or earthshaking quakes.New Funding for Transportation OptionsOn a more positive note, Obama has proposed to increase the funds for lower-carbon emitting transportation options based on sustainable energy sources such as the Dallas plan to reform their entire city fleet over to electricity-based fuel alternatives.While some are critical of Obama’s proposals and condemn his administration for omitting to address international issues that contribute to global warming, he should be commended for addressing the Americans’ own responsibility for contributions at home.  The United States is one of the foremost industrialized nations, yet it has some of more lax environmental policies for allowing greenhouse gas emissions in the world.  American deposits into the World Bank help to finance fossil fuel projects in developing countries because the US is reliant for 65 percent of its energy consumption on foreign oil.  Focusing on advancing our own technology to increase self-reliance on sustainable energy sources will go a long way toward capping global warming.Let’s clean up our own backyard.  The neighborhood will benefit.

Obama Caps Global Warming is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog

Better get used to seeing and hearing a few new buzz words as the green technology movement increases its popularity among mainstream consumer products.  VRAs (vehicle refuelling appliances) will replace service centre in the vocabulary of the next generation. Making reference to a gas station will relegate you to the senior citizen age group just as quickly as saying, ‘record player, answering machine and typewriter’.Many partnerships around the world have arisen from the need to explore and develop hydrogen power.  Hydrogen can be used to generate energy for everything from vehicles to professional buildings.  For most purposes, the hydrogen stream can come from a single conveniently located appliance.  The VRA can refuel the vehicle directly or the hydrogen stream can be stored and dispensed at a later time.Hydrogen Refuelling OptionsOther choices for refuelling include overnight filling.  This type of VRA utilizes times when the vehicle is not in use (usually at night) to refuel. A hose can be connected to the vehicle; it refills automatically and shuts down when the tank is full.  Faster filling, such as the type you would want at the roadside, uses compressed air inside a tank to release stored hydrogen. It takes about 2-3 minutes, sticking to the same comfort zone as gasoline occupies now. Another option is a combination system in which compressed air is used to dispense the stored hydrogen from a primary source on the spot.  This is the sort of VRA that would be appropriate for large public transportation fleets or school buses. A fourth option fulfills the need for residential or business use; the larger compressed air tank is kept outside, while the actual VRA is located indoors and controlled via a panel.Some automotive manufacturers have developed fuel cell powered vehicles (FCVs) that use hydrogen produced by solar-powered electrolysis.  This type of VRA stores compressed hydrogen in composite tanks.  When vehicles need to be re-fuelled, it is dispensed into the vehicle via a cascade system.Many municipalities, such as Dallas Texas, are beginning to allocate funds and incorporate budding green technology into the existing infrastructure.  Supporting hydrogen products and research will expedite the time we need to become less reliant on fossil fuels.  If necessity is the mother of invention, it is definitely time to stop using energy sources that will end up destroying the health of our planet.

Vehicle Refuelling Hydrogen Stations is a post from: Green Efficient LEED Blog