US Green Building Council NJ News

UPDATE- LEED 2012 4th public comment period

Medea Villere — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:47:15 GMT

LEED 2012: Fourth Public Comment Is Open

The fourth public comment period for LEED 2012 opened Friday and will close May 28 (11:59 pm ET).

This is an opportunity for stakeholders to review what we consider to be a final version of the rating system that will move forward to ballot. A number of key changes have been made to address the technical and market issues voiced throughout the course of previous comment periods. This version is intended to show the technical requirements up for ballot, short of any clarifications or non-substantive changes that come up during fourth public comment. Visit www.usgbc.org/leed2012 for further details and please promote public comment to your chapter's membership.

BASF opens new headquarters building in Florham Park - Registered Double LEED Platinum

Florence Block — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:51:41 GMT

Pictured Above: Florence Block, Exec. Director USGBC NJ Presents Awards to BASF Chairman & CEO Hans Engel (right) and Rockefeller Group Pres. & CEO Kevin Hackett (left) at BASF Double Platinum Registered Florham Park HQ Ribbon Cutting

News Release

BASF opens new headquarters building in Florham Park

Company showcases its commitment to a sustainable future

For more information contact:

Maureen Paukert

BASF Corporation

Tel: 973-245-6077

Mobile: 973-975-6234

E-mail: maureen.paukert@basf.com

Donna Jakubowski

BASF Corporation

Tel: 973-245-6260

Mobile: 732-297-4035

E-mail: donna.jakubowski@basf.com

BASF Corporation

100 Campus Drive

Florham Park, NJ 07932

FLORHAM PARK, NJ, May 4, 2012 -- BASF Corporation, business partners, state officials, community representatives and neighbors today celebrated the official opening of BASF’s new North American headquarters building at 100 Park Avenue in Florham Park, New Jersey. The 325,000 square foot building, developed in partnership with the Rockefeller Group Development Corporation at The Green at Florham Park, is designed to achieve LEED® double Platinum* certification. It features many BASF enabled construction solutions and is one of New Jersey’s largest sustainable buildings.

“Our new headquarters stands as a tangible example of how BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future,” said Hans Engel, Chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation. “By incorporating the latest technologies and materials with smart design and sophisticated ergonomics, we will be protective of the environment while providing 1,400 employees with a healthy and safe work atmosphere where they can even better cooperate and collaborate.”

“We’re proud to deliver to BASF its new North American Headquarters and to move The Green at Florham Park another step closer to completion,” said Kevin R. Hackett, President and CEO of The Rockefeller Group. “This building puts New Jersey on the map for leadership in sustainable design and construction.”

“This is a substantial investment by BASF and a deep and strong commitment to New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “BASF chose to remain in New Jersey because of our resources, talent, diversity and vastly improved business climate and attitude. In Florham Park and facilities around New Jersey, BASF employs people in meaningful jobs to develop more energy efficient cars, improve health care, and find new ways to feed a growing world.”

Lt. Gov. Guadagno was among a group of more than 200 guests invited to an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Also attending were Florence Block, Executive Director of USGBC NJ, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez; U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen; Former Governor and State Senator Richard Codey; other members of the NJ State Legislature; Morris County and Florham Park officials, including Mayor Scott Eveland, and Woody Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the New York Jets.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Lt. Gov. Guadagno and other guests were given a tour of the new building which included a visit to the Innovation Center, a permanent display of BASF technologies, and a demonstration of Kids’ Lab, the company’s science education program for children ages 6 – 12.

Kids’ Lab is designed to raise children’s interest in chemistry through safe and engaging, hands-on experiments and help them understand the role that chemistry plays in the world around them. Thirty 5th grade students from Brooklake Elementary School in Florham Park experimented with methods of water purification while learning the importance of protecting the earth’s finite water supply.

The day’s activities also included BASF’s “We create chemistry” world tour, a traveling showcase of the company’s innovations to provide solutions for the challenges of the future, such as rising energy demands, the growing world population and society’s high aspirations for quality of life.

Photos and videos of the ribbon-cutting ceremony available under: http://on.basf.com/JASzI0.

BASF - The Chemical Company.

BASF Corporation has been headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey since 2004 and is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

*LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a trademark of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Platinum certification is the highest achievement attainable through the LEED green building certification program which encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance. BASF is seeking Platinum certification in two phases: one for Core & Shell and another for Commercial Interiors.

NOTE from USGBC NJ on the Architecture & Design of this building: The Base building was done by KPF, and the interior by Gensler.

NJPRO Report: How Environmental Sustainability Makes Good Business Sense

Medea Villere — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:49:27 GMT

The 28 page report discussed above is available online here:
Sustainability for Business: Innovation, Cost Savings, and Opportunities.

USGBC NJ Offers Fully Funded Training for NJ Unemployed & Veterans

Medea Villere — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:37:10 GMT

Medea Villeré, USGBC NJ's Membership and Communications Coordinator discusses the Chapter's Grant Funded Training for NJ Unemployed and Veterans on 1450 WCTC radio on April 24, 2012.

Listen here.

Four NJ Schools Honored in Federal Green Ribbon Schools Competition

Medea Villere — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:18:39 GMT

Obama Administration Names 78 Schools in 29 States and D.C. as First-Ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

Winners Represent a Diverse Portfolio of Schools, Includes 66 Public and 12 Private Schools in Urban and Rural Communities

APRIL 23, 2012

Contact:

Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was joined today by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to announce the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, a list including 78 schools that span 29 states and D.C.

The announcement was made during a visit to Stoddert Elementary School, one of D.C.'s two honorees.

"Science, environmental and outdoor education play a central role in providing children with a well-rounded education, helping prepare them for the jobs of the future," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate compelling examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments."

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal recognition program that opened in September 2011. Honored schools exercise a comprehensive approach to creating "green" environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global economy.

"Schools that take a green approach cut costs on their utility bills, foster healthy and productive classrooms, and prepare students to thrive in the 21st century economy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "These Green Ribbon School award winners are taking outstanding steps to educate tomorrow's environmental leaders, and demonstrating how sustainability and environmental awareness make sense for the health of our students and our country."

The 78 awarded schools were named winners from among nearly 100 nominees submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public schools, including 8 charters, and 12 private schools. In total, the schools are composed of 43 elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent representing high poverty schools.

"These Green Ribbon Schools are giving students and educators what they need to maximize learning and minimize risks like asthma and other respiratory illnesses, ensuring that no child is burdened by pollution in or around their school," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Today's winners are protecting our children's health and opening up environmental education opportunities for students. The EPA is proud to help recognize the Green Ribbon award winners and will continue working to improve the environment of our nation's schools and helping prepare students to succeed in the emerging green economy."

The U.S. Department of Education's "Green Ribbons" are one-year recognition awards. Next year's competition will open in summer 2012. State agencies are encouraged to send their intents to submit nominees by June 15, 2012 via email to green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov.

Connect with more U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools resources.

Read all U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools blogs.

Connect with U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools on Facebook.

A complete list of the 2012 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools [available here].

New Jersey Honorees:

Bernards High School
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Midtown Community Elementary School
Neptune, New Jersey
Adler Avenue Middle School
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
The Willow School
Gladstone, New Jersey

Dancker, Sellew & Douglas Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Roof-Top Solar Farm

Medea Villere — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:02:10 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Anthony Fioravanti

Telephone: (908) 252-6008

Date: April 4, 2012

Dancker, Sellew & Douglas Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Roof-Top Solar Farm

Somerville, NJ (April 4, 2012) – Dancker, Sellew & Douglas (DS&D), announced that it will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 26 at 1:00 PM for a roof-top solar array at its Somerville N.J. headquarters. The 674 kilowatt array of over 2,576 roof-mounted panels – expected to generate about 875,526 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power per year – has been installed on the roof of DS&D’s 90,000 square foot showroom and warehouse facility . The solar farm is expected to decrease green house gas emissions through the production of renewable energy. The solar farm’s energy output is equivalent to eliminating approximately seventy passenger vehicles from the road per year and about 1,173,205 pounds of carbon annually. In addition to hosting a solar farm, DS&D installed a GE Charging Station for electric vehicles which is powered by the solar array. The ribbon cutting ceremony’s list of attendees and guest speakers include New Jersey Senator Chris “Kip” Bateman, Branchburg Mayor John Sanford, USGBC Chapter of NJ Director Florence Block and William Amann & Jeanne Perantoni of the Somerset County Energy Council.

“As one of our corporate values, we aspire to understand the needs of our environment and actively pursue new avenues in reducing our carbon footprint. By hosting a solar farm and providing the use of a charging station for electric vehicles, we feel we can obtain greater visibility as innovators in our industry,” said Steve Lang, Principal, DS&D. “This project will generate about eighty percent of our facility’s energy needs as well as decrease carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 532 metric tons annually.”

DS&D will host a continuing education unit (CEU) on Sustainable Commercial Interiors on the morning of the ribbon cutting ceremony. This session will discuss how sustainable practices are able to be incorporated into both major fit-out projects and daily operations. The CEU will be hosted by Gerard Hazel of Sustainability Services, LLC. Gerard Hazel is a LEED Consultant who has thirty years of experience in the construction industry and serves an instructor for the NJ Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. The CEU will touch on concepts such as the choices tenants have available to reduce the negative impacts of buildings on the environment, as well as improving indoor environmental quality for occupants. The CEU is GBCI approved for one CEU hour and AIA approved for one learning unit hour.

As stated on their company website, DS&D’s outlook on sustainability is much more than a state of mind. For them, preserving the environment is a daily commitment which they proudly fulfil through their internal policies and by promoting sustainable design in collaboration with their manufacturing partners, Steelcase, ThermoScientific and Methis.

About Dancker, Sellew & Douglas

At DS&D our mission is to foster growth and productivity by creating great spaces at work. Whether you design them, manage them or work in them, we can help you create high performance, harder working workspaces. We offer the broadest range of products including office furniture, trading desks, lab equipment, classroom and healthcare furnitureundefined as well as valuable services including logistics, office planning and office furniture installation. Our success is based on helping our customers create workplaces that build their business, reflect their brand and support their culture.

For more information, visit www.dancker.com.

Third Public Comment Period for Update to USGBC’s LEED Green Building Program Opens March 1

Florence Block — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:08:25 GMT

Third Public Comment Period for Update to USGBC’s LEED Green Building

Program to Open Next Month

LEED 2012 draft focuses on providing a simple-to-use, technically advanced and more robust system

Washington, DC – (Feb. 13, 2012) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today announced that the third public comment period for the proposed 2012 update to its LEED green building program will open Mar. 1, 2012. The comment period, which will close on Mar. 27, marks the start of the LEED 2012 program delivery process.

“LEED sits at the core of the green building movement, and is critical in realizing our collective mission,” said Scot Horst, Senior Vice President of LEED, USGBC. “LEED’s strength comes from its continuous evolution. This continuous improvement is the outcome of thousands of technical volunteers working to develop the program and the adaptability of the program to technological and market changes.”

The current draft of LEED has been refined to address technical stringency and rigor, measurement and performance tools, and an enhanced user experience. The technical changes have been informed by market data, stakeholder-generated ideas, expert engagement and advances in technology.

Additional performance-based management features will help projects measure and manage energy and water usage, site and building material selection, and indoor environmental quality.

“LEED 2012 is the next step towards a global, performance-based application,” continued Horst. “In LEED 2012, a project’s engagement with LEED will represent an ongoing commitment that is supported by a suite of performance management tools.”

The third public comment documents, including technical refinements, scorecards and responses to comments from the previous public comment period will be available on usgbc.org/LEED2012 beginning Mar. 1. Members of the public can comment on any substantive changes made since the second public comment period, which ran from Aug. 1 through Sept. 14, 2011.

Once the comment period process concludes, LEED 2012 will be balloted in June and launch in November. To vote in the ballot, USGBC members must opt-in to the Consensus Body beginning Apr. 2. The Consensus Body is made up of employees of USGBC national member organizations in good standing, and ensures ballot participation from the full diversity of members who are using LEED in the marketplace. To be eligible to join the Consensus Body and vote in the LEED 2012 ballot, USGBC members must be in good standing by Mar. 1, and be maintained throughout the balloting period.

To learn more about LEED 2012, visit usgbc.org/LEED2012.

USGBC NJ and the Somerset County Business Partnership join in support of "Travelgreen NJ"

Florence Block — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:08:19 GMT

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP JOINS WITH US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL SUPPORTING “TRAVELGREEN NJ”

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The Somerset County Business Partnership has joined with the New Jersey Chapter of the United States Green Building Council NJ (USGBC-NJ) in active support of TravelGreen NJ.

TravelGreen NJ is a voluntary pilot program being developed in conjunction with owners and operators of hospitality facilities in the State of New Jersey. The focus of the effort is to promote smart, environmentally friendly business practices in the hospitality industry. This sustainable tourism certification program is intended to support the efforts of growing national “green” initiatives and entice tourists to patronize those establishments that reduce their environmental impact and support sustainability.

The three primary goals of New Jersey Green Tourism initiative are to promote New Jersey’s assets to attract visitors, thereby increasing jobs and profitability in the hospitality sector; conserve natural resources and reduce waste; and improve natural and work environments.

The Somerset County Business Partnership is a natural fit for the TravelGreen NJ initiative with proactive tourism and sustainability initiatives. The Partnership’s Sustainable Somerset committee and the Director of Tourism endorsed the program following a presentation by Faith Taylor, member of the USGBC-NJ Board of Directors.

Ms. Taylor noted that a recent JD Powers study showed that hotels promoting their green initiatives show a higher guest satisfaction that those that do not.

Among the goals of TravelGreenNJ are to establish a Green Lodging Training and Certification program and a Green Buildings and Job Development program for hotels and related facilities. Additionally, the Partnership will recommend hotels for participation in environmental audits, technical assistance, education, and implementation incentives as part of the Garden State Hotels Project.

The Business Partnership will lead the planning initiative for the statewide TravelGreenNJ energy conservation conference for the travel and tourism industry scheduled for 2013.

“The Business Partnership Sustainable Somerset committee is proud to be able to support a program that is environmentally sound while at the same time supporting an important Somerset County industry,” commented Ed Seliga, chair of Sustainable Somerset.

“A dedicated effort to promoting environmentally sound practices in the hospitality industry works into the Business Partnership’s effort to promote eco and agri-tourism in Somerset County,” commented Jackie Morales, Director of Tourism.

Information on TravelGreenNJ may be found at www.travelgreennj.com.

For more information on Somerset County Business Partnership initiatives, call 908-218-4300 or access online at www.scbp.org.

BACKGROUNDER

The Somerset County Business Partnership serves as central New Jersey’s regional Chamber of Commerce. Members and investors represent public, private and community organizations, working in partnership and dedicated to maintaining and promoting economic prosperity and quality of life in Somerset County. The Somerset County Business Partnership is an essential partner for doing business in Somerset County, and as such is the premier regional business organization in New Jersey. The Business Partnership seeks to achieve four key outcomes; public leadership, advocacy, economic and community development, and value/engagement, providing LEADERSHIP, OPPORTUNITY, AND RESULTS to the Somerset County Business Community.

PRESS CONTACT: Rich Reitman 908-526-1390 or 908-400-6061

Rich Reitman

The Reitman Group

908-526-1390

www.thereitmangroup.com

LIBERTY CORNER CORPORATE CENTER ACHIEVES LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION

Florence Block — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:35:55 GMT

LIBERTY CORNER CORPORATE CENTER ACHIEVES

LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION

Edison, New Jersey February 20, 2012 Mack-Cali Realty Corporation (NYSE: CLI) today announced that Liberty Corner Corporate Center, 106 Allen Road in Bernards Township, NJ has been awarded LEED-EB:OM 2009 Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). 106 Allen Road is the second multi-tenanted building in New Jersey to achieve this prestigious award.

The LEED-EB:OM 2009 (“Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design – Existing Buildings: Operation & Maintenance”) certification recognizes maximized operational efficiency with minimized environmental impact. It addresses cleaning and maintenance issues – including chemical use – recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and system upgrades. It is the only LEED rating system under which projects can demonstrate actual energy efficiency and sustainable operations performance metrics.

Highlights of the building’s sustainability achievements include:

An ENERGY STAR rating of 95, which places the building in the top 5 percent of similar buildings in terms of energy efficiency

Use of highly efficient plumbing fixtures providing water savings of 23 percent

Improvements to the building’s irrigation system provide a 66 percent reduction in water use for irrigation, as well as the installation of a dedicated meter to monitor ongoing performance

Recycling efforts resulting in a 55 percent diversion rate of recyclables from landfill of ongoing consumable waste and a 100 percent diversion rate of durable goods from entering the waste stream

As part of the building’s Sustainable Purchasing Plan, mercury content of lighting has been substantially reduced

A Green Cleaning Program has been implemented as part of a comprehensive building-wide Indoor Air Quality Program

Gerard Hazel of Sustainable Systems LLC provided consulting services on the project.

Mitchell E. Hersh, Mack-Cali president and chief executive officer, commented, “We are very proud to have achieved this important designation at 106 Allen Road, which enhances the institutional quality of this class A building. Today, businesses and government agencies are more environmentally conscious and are looking specifically for office properties that are energy efficient and more sustainable, with a goal of reducing their overall carbon footprint.”

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is a fully integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) providing management, leasing, development, construction and other tenant-related services for its class A real estate portfolio. Mack-Cali owns or has interests in 278 properties, primarily office and office/flex buildings located in the Northeast, totaling approximately 32.4 million square feet. The properties enable the Company to provide a full complement of real estate opportunities to its diverse base of over 2,000 tenants.

Additional information on Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is available on the Company’s website at www.mack-cali.com.

Statements made in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate, and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

Costs Have Come Down and Incentives Abound for Green BUilding

Florence Block — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:07:20 GMT

NJ BIZ: November 2011
Bullish on Green Building

Costs have come down and incentives abound for environmentally friendly construction and energy-saving technology.

By Sharon Sheridan, Contributing Writer

Six years ago, RJ Donnelly started attending programs sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and he realized that environmentally sustainable buildings offered a huge opportunity to Donnelly Industries. Three years later, the Wayne business launched its Donnelly Energy Solutions division, which upgrades buildings to make them more energy-efficient and incorporate renewable energy into their operations. Donnelly also includes a construction division, which focuses on new “green” construction, and a facilities management division.

Today, while many former competitors who did not switch to green building are out of business or “pared to skeleton crews,” Donnelly has continued to grow and hire through the recession. It now employs about 100 people.

“We identified a trend. We took a risk on it, but it’s paid off big-time,” says Donnelly, who is also a U.S. Green Building Council board member for the state chapter. “It’s really been a boom.”

With environmentally friendly construction materials now commonplace and tax breaks and cost savings available for sustainable energy users, consumers no longer must choose between traditional buildings and higher-cost environmentally sustainable ones.

“Ten years ago, recycled materials were the exception rather than the rule, and there probably was a 10 percent premium to ordering those materials,” says Florence Block, executive director of the New Jersey council chapter.

Major manufacturers now off er recycled and nontoxic materials, from carpeting to low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints. “Today, it’s so mainstream,” Block says. “It’s very easy to find those resources.”

“What a lot of people don’t realize,” Donnelly adds, “is the old way of designing and building and operating buildings is gone.”

“Some people don’t get it. They continue to build to the traditional model. It costs them more and more to Operate their business because of the cost of energy,” he says. But increasing numbers are choosing green building because “the buildings are so much more efficient and so much cheaper to operate.”

For Donnelly Industries, “It’s a pretty lucrative opportunity, and it’s also the right thing [to do].”

The company’s own sustainably constructed building is a prime example, with a solar array on the roof and a contract to buy any electricity it doesn’t generate from an energy Company providing power only from renewable resources. The new building saves 40 percent in operating costs and, thanks to “enormous federal and state incentives,” will pay back the cost of the solar installation in less than three years, Donnelly says.

Solar is a growing piece of green building in New Jersey, says Mark Warner, CEO of Flemington-based Sun Farm Network, which employs 25 people. Launched in 2002, the company was one of the founding members Of the state’s solar industry, he says. “We’re basically doubling in size every year.”

While solar panels are largely made in Asia, that only represents 30 to 40 percent of the cost of the end product, he notes. “The nice thing about solar is that there is a large local component to it.” Engineers, managers, installers – “That work can’t be outsourced. Everything that I do in this company can’t be done in Asia.”

Sun Farm has built hundreds of solar systems in the state, including residential, farm and faith-based and other nonprofit organization projects.
“Our biggest market is the commercial segment: office buildings, warehouses, industrial buildings,” Warner says. “One of the big trends in New Jersey is that we’re able to put the parking lots to work by building canopy structures that have solar arrays on them.”

At St. Peter’s University Hospital, for example, Sun Farm recently began work on a 2.2 megawatt solar installation involving two traditional roof arrays, three solar canopies on large open-field parking lots and a fourth on the top level of a parking deck.

New Jersey is among the top five solar markets in the world, second only to California in the United States, Warner says. It boasts 46 kilowatts per square mile, with 10,000 solar systems – most built in the last three or four years – providing 400 megawatts of generation capacity, or enough to power 40,000 average homes annually.

Many businesses now look for LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, building certification. The Green Building Council developed the standards for the voluntary accreditation, which the independent Green Building Credentialing Institute administers, Block explains. Based on criteria related to site selection, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, water efficiency, materials and resources, and innovation and design, buildings in various categories – including new construction and major renovations – can achieve LEED ratings ranging from basic to platinum. The council periodically revises the standards – adding greater energy-efficiency criteria, for example, Block says.

As of August, New Jersey had nearly 100 LEED-certified buildings. One thousand individuals representing 600 companies belong to the New Jersey council chapter, with most members coming from businesses of 25 to 75 employees, Block says. “We are considered one of the top nine active chapters in the country.
We’re looked upon as providing a number of best practices, especially in the
field of education.”

Thanks to a New Jersey Department of Labor grant, the council has provided LEED training to more than 700 employees in the state, she says. “We’re also involved with working with the Legislature as a resource for technical information for LEED-related legislation.

“The early adopters of LEED and sustainable building were predominantly architects and engineers,” she says. Today, developers, lawyers and others who originally dismissed sustainable building as too expensive are coming on board, she says. “It’s no longer a commodity; it’s mainstream.”

One way to make green building affordable is to use an integrated design process, with everyone involved working together from the beginning instead of starting with one design and then adding sustainable elements later, she notes. Design it this way, and the cost is virtually the same as for a similar traditional building – plus you reap the benefits of lower energy costs and tax breaks, she says. “In the long run, it’s cheaper.”

Hartz Mountain Industries established a sustainable group within the company four years ago and analyzed what it took to make a building “green.”

“For Hartz, that was a unique problem because of our large holdings,” says Vince Antonacci, vice president of architecture for the sustainable group.

Hartz has moved forward with a variety of green projects, including a $385,000 renovation of its own 260,000-square-foot headquarters in Secaucus that has applied for LEED Silver certification. A Sheraton in Weehawken achieved silver status. Projects underway, all aiming for LEED certification, include a 581-unit residential complex in Weehawken, a 120-unit complex in Secaucus and a lifestyle center at the former Ford plant in Edison.

Green building is “all-encompassing,” says Antonacci. “It’s a wholistic approach to an entire building.” Should a building start out not-sogreen, progressive renovations can make improvements over time. This could include changing light bulbs and modifying heating and cooling systems.

“It’s all the small, little details that, once they’re addressed, add up to quite a lot,” he says.

“We have sustainable guidelines that are included in the work that we do for renovation of spaces,” while new projects aim for LEED certification, Antonacci says. “Hartz is into solar quite heavily. We have a lot of warehouses, and we’ve put on, I think now, about 8 megawatts of solar.” They’re building a solar farm in South Jersey that should generate another 8 megawatts and have added solar arrays to retail establishments as well.

Like others, Antonacci says the cost of green building decreased as once-specialized products became more standard. “Depending on the size of the project, the impact may be somewhat negligible,” he says. “It’s attention to detail. And if things are approached properly from the very beginning, you find that when the buildings are more efficient you do get a return from the operating expenses. Also, there are rebate programs in New Jersey and New York that offset some of the cost.”

While the cost of green products has decreased, the costs of a certified consultant for achieving LEED status still can increase the costs of sustainable building, says Dorothy Zarnik, founding principal of Iselin-based Aztec Architects, which employs about 30 people in New Jersey.

Typically Aztec’s larger clients – those with properties of 30,000 square feet or more – are the ones seeking LEED certification, she says.

“I see a huge trend of bringing work stations down to a lower level, letting light in. I’m seeing a lot less private offices, and if there are private
offices, they’re on the interior so as not to block the window light,” she says.

Many products used for building interiors, such as carpeting, are “just inherently green,” she says. “So even if you’re not trying, a lot of the material that’s going into new office space is very green. It’s just how you use it all together and document [it] that really gets you the LEED status.”

When it comes to green building in New Jersey, roadblocks include the lack of credit that has plagued businesses in general during the current economy and ignorance about sustainable building, which the Green Building Council tries to address, Donnelly says.

Donnelly Energy Solutions has retrofitted 500 buildings in New Jersey, mostly municipal buildings and schools, for greater energy efficiency. The Weichert Corporate Office in Morris Plains, for example, will save $20,253 annually and receive $170,192 in federal and state incentives on a $212,740 retrofit with a payback time of just over two years. The Rockaway River Country Club saves $12,760 on a $87,481 retrofit that netted $50,000 in incentives, with a payback of less than three years. A $100,822 retrofit involving high-efficiency lighting and occupancy sensors will save Morris Catholic High School in Denville $45,533 yearly in energy costs and had a payback of less than a year after receiving $80,658 in incentives. Current projects include a LEED gold renovation of a dorm at Bonnie Brae School in Liberty Corner and a total-building energy retrofit of Brogan Cadillac in Totowa that will include a 600 kilowatt solar array.

“We only build LEED-certified buildings. We know when we run the numbers it makes financial sense,” Donnelly says. “A lot of people are skeptical, but little by little we’re getting there.”
-END-

SEPARATE SIDEBAR ARTICLE:

Metal Buildings, Building Green

By Authur Hance, President of Home Construction

When you say ‘metal building’, many still think of Quonset huts, the pre-fabricated steel buildings that most people associate with World War II era army barracks. But modern techniques, materials and laboratory testing ensure that today’s metal buildings are attractive and energy efficient. In fact, metal buildings often provide superior sustainability and cost savings for building owners.

Even for those property owners who know that metal buildings have made some progress in the last 60 years, these structures still create images of large gray warehouses that waste energy faster than you can blink. But today’s metal buildings can provide virtually unlimited design options and have actually made green building affordable.

“Metal roofs and walls off er an unbeatable level of environmental performance and aesthetic appeal,” concluded an industry report based on a U.S. Green Building Council Continuing Education program. “They are sustainable, have low impact on the environment, reduce solid waste in construction, help reduce energy usage in all climates, and improve the air quality and water efficiency in buildings and their surroundings. They can be applied to all types of buildings in any climate and offer designers and building owners a variety of visible options and behind-the-scene operating benefits.”

As president elect of the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA) Mid-Atlantic Division, I recently had the opportunity to co-author the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education program on metal building and sustainability and design that is provided through the MBCEA. We presented the program, titled “Pre-Engineered Metal Building Sustainability and Design,” at METALCON International, our industry’s premier professional event.

The message for both people in the metal construction industry and property owners is simple: Building attractive, safe and energy-efficient buildings has never been more important. The good news for property owners is that metal buildings today are the right choice for cost-effective, expeditious construction, particularly in markets where there is a demand for quality, quickly delivered buildings.”

New Jersey Business Magazine Editorial & Advertising Staff:

Vincent Schweikert, Vice President & Publisher
973-882-5004. ext. 110
v.schweikert@njbmagazine.com

Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief
973-882-5004. ext. 104
a.birritteri@njbmagazine.com

George Saliba, Managing Editor
973-882-5004. ext. 106
g.saliba@njbmagazine.com

Lisa Fragati-Criscuolo, Advertising Manager
973-882-5004. ext. 108
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Gloria Owens, Account Executive
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Doug Prefach, Account Executive
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Neptune School Receives LEED Platinum Certification - Largest of the 25 Platinum-Designated Schools Nationwide

Florence Block — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:46:38 GMT

NEPTUNE undefined Midtown Community Elementary School is among the nation’s environmentally elite elementary schools.

The 700-student school was awarded platinum certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. “Platinum” is the highest LEED rating and represents the “greenest” buildings in the world, according to a prepared statement about the award.

The district held a ceremony Friday to acknowledge the award.

The school is New Jersey’s first public prekindergarten-to-fifth-grade school to be given the award and the largest of the 25 platinum-designated schools nationwide, according to the statement.

“We started planning ‘green’ schools in 2002,” said Schools Superintendent David Mooij. “This is really the fruition of that and the last project to be so acknowledged for its ‘greenness.’ ”

Among the “green” amenities in the school are a geothermal heating and cooling system and a solar photovoltaic array that has helped reduce the school’s energy costs, according to the release.

The school also features glass doors in certain areas so students can see the school’s green systems in action and a 6,000-square-foot rooftop garden undefined

designed in conjunction with the Liberty Science Center undefined that is used for outdoor experiments.

Paul Qvale, a board member of the New Jersey chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, said Midtown is an example of a district using a school as a “3-D textbook.”

He said that building “green” does not necessarily mean spending more money.

“I really do think that green is very appropriate when you’re not spending too much money,” he said. “It’s a great way to engage students.”

Qvale said the school’s use of “place-based education undefined “where they’re using the environment to teach,” he said undefined is a “great way to inspire people.”

Midtown is not the first township school to be given a major environmental award by the council.

In 2008 Summerfield School was awarded a “gold”certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Summerfield was the first New Jersey school to be given the designation.

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USGBC NJ Receives New Customized Training Grant To Provide Fully Funded LEED & Related Green Building Education for NJ Businesses

Florence Block — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:57:37 GMT

The New Jersey Chapter of the US Green Building Council has received its second Customized Training Grant to provide fully funded Customized Green Training, LEED Green Associate/LEED AP Credential Preparation, and Credential Maintenance coursework for employees of NJ Businesses. The original grant was awarded in September 2009 since which time over 65 NJ Businesses have participated encompassing over 750 employees. Participating Companies include both Major Corporations, Small Businesses and Not for Profits representing a wide array of sectors, from Architects/Engineers, Construction Companies, Facility Management Firms, Real Estate Developers, Law Firms, Admin/Procurement Organizations, Telecommunications, Pharmaceutical Companies, Energy Technology, Building & Construction Trades, to name a few.

The NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development recognizes the transformation taking place in our economy that is largely driven by both the need to retool our talent pool of employees, grow job opportunities, and the need to support implementation of federal and state initiatives towards energy efficiency and alternative energy source development. Buildings are the #1 users of Energy (72%), and CO2 emissions (39%) in the country – ahead of transportation. Green Buildings and Green Building Retrofits have the potential to reduce energy consumption by 50%, water use by 40%, CO2 emissions by 39% and solid waste by 70%. Further studies show that employees in green buildings are healthier, more productive and businesses experience higher rates of recruitment and retention of employees – the most costly business operational expense.

For more information, and to apply for USGBC NJ grant training please visit www.usgbcnj.org education tab. Or email exectivedirector@usgbcnj.org.

USGBC is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group formed in 1993. New Jersey membership exceeds 1400 Corporations inclusive of USGBC National and the USGBC New Jersey Chapter. There are over 4,000 LEED® accredited professionals in NJ and over 500 LEED® registered and 100 certified projects in New Jersey.

Newark, New Jersey Celebrates First LEED Certified Homes

Dan Cannon — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:27:28 GMT

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White House Lays Out Plan for Better Buildings

Dan Cannon — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:29:39 GMT

Click here to download >>>

New Online Tool Launched for LEED Professional Credential Holders

Dan Cannon — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:30:57 GMT

Click here >>>

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Newark, New Jersey Celebrates First LEED Certified Homes

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Bullish on Green Building