Going green: for the first green, soon-to-be-LEED-certified law school in the country, details matter - Facilities/Construction

University Business, June, 2003 by Jeff Morris

Adds Jason Hainline, an ENSAR associate, "Many professionals who would never have considered sustainability issues before are now doing so because of the LEED standards. It provides the ability to benchmark, and gives them a marketing edge."

Still, it's important to note that green requirements don't always get built into plans up front--and even when they are, there's often not enough overseeing to make sure they're being followed. Dr. Marilyn Black, founder and chief scientist of Air Quality Sciences Inc. (www.aqs.com) and the Greenguard Institute, which certifies low-emitting interior products and building materials (www.greenguard.org), warns that the process is complex because it spans the space from original design, all the way down to the janitor who's going to clean up the dust at the end. (A building "flush-out" for a two-week period before anybody moves in must be included in construction specs.)

Furnishings

Because Johnson & Wales wanted to buy the old law school building contents as well as the structure, all-new furniture was needed for the new law building. Furniture, however, is not yet part of the LEED program (although USGBC has started developing standards for renovations and interiors), so the school doesn't gain any certification points for environmentally friendly furnishings. Still, DU administrators are as concerned about furnishings as they are about construction. "It shows DU really is interested in good air quality, not simply in getting a plaque," says Johnson.

All of the office/staff work systems, classroom chairs, and furniture were selected by Margie Snow, a Denver furniture consultant working for H&L. Snow prepared a six-page questionnaire for vendors, and in addition to getting price bids, she asked about environmental policies, use of environmentally friendly woods, etc. As a result, the new building will be furnished with furniture and systems only from manufacturers with demonstrated environmental health and safety (EHS) policies and practices with regard to recycled and certified raw materials, manufacturing process, indoor air quality, performance and ergonomics, and resource recovery.

Hainline points out that LEED and Greenguard are but two of a number of certifiers now in the green products market. Carpet standards have been in place for a while through the low VOC (volatile organic compounds) program of the Carpet & Rug Institute (www.carpet-rug.com); carpets are infused with anti-microbial agents that reduce mold and mildew. "Most manufacturers are addressing these needs today," he says.

Cost vs. Payback

Are up-front costs for green construction higher than for traditional construction? "Not really," says Pring. "Costs are not higher for standard tEED certification. We're looking at a building that will cost around $63.5 million--that's the total cost, including green materials. It's possible that some materials--such as low-VOC paints--may cost a bit more, up front; however, we've found there's often a big debate about whether particular items are dictated by green building standards or are something you would have done anyway. People think they're going to be spending twice as much to build an environmentally friendly building; that's just not so."