Lendlease and its partner Aware Super, a superannuation fund, say the global real estate company’s multifamily portfolio in Boston and Chicago has been verified as “net zero carbon.”
New projects in New York City and Los Angeles are on track to achieve the same goal as construction gets underway. The company achieved net zero through a combination of efficient design to reduce electric usage by making systems operate more efficiently and through the purchase of carbon offsets.
The company reduces resident emissions by focusing on efficient space heating, air conditioning and ventilation, water heating, cooking, water use and treatment, and waste treatment, including building amenities. “We only use carbon offsets for the residual emissions that we cannot avoid,” according to a Lendlease news release.
“Carbon offsets purchased are U.S.-based renewable energy from wind power with social outcomes as a co-benefit,” the release says. “The offset project supports sustainability education and is linked to research and skills training programs aimed at supporting green jobs.”
Lendlease is targeting absolute zero carbon across its global enterprise by 2040, which entails a commitment to no longer purchasing offsets.
Related Stories
| Feb 28, 2014
Steel Joist Institute standards open for review
The 2015 draft of the Steel Joist Institute’s “Single Joist Standard Specification for K-, LH-, and DLH-Series and Joist Girders” will be available for public review until May 31, 2014.
| Feb 28, 2014
Metcalf Construction wins key reversal from federal appeals court in Hawaii on military contract
Metcalf spent more than $76 million on a military construction project and sued to recoup costs.
| Feb 19, 2014
Obama Administration moves to boost fuel efficiency standards on heavy-duty vehicles
The Obama Administration wants to boost fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks for models made in 2019 and later.
| Feb 19, 2014
Net Positive Energy + Water is latest green certification standard
The advancement of sustainable construction has reached a new milestone with the development of Net Positive Energy+Water, a new green building certification standard that aims to improve net zero approaches to energy and water conservation.
| Feb 19, 2014
Obama’s climate resilience panel says PVs, cool roofs should be part of solution
Among the suggestions were rooftop solar energy systems and cool roofs, which could be encouraged by policies from local governments.
| Feb 19, 2014
OSHA proposes three-year postponement of crane operator certification requirement
OSHA’s proposal to postpone the compliance date for crane operator certification by three years was made official on Feb. 7 when it was published in the Federal Register.
| Feb 19, 2014
USGBC introduces new online educational platform
The U.S. Green Building Council has introduced “Education @USGBC” a new educational platform.
| Feb 17, 2014
Channeling weather forecasts to building systems can yield significant energy savings
Using weather forecasts to predict outdoor temperature changes can lead to significant energy savings, exceeding 10%, researchers say.
| Feb 17, 2014
Lawmakers may take away control of Florida hospital project from the VA
The project is $100 million over budget and has missed its scheduled completion date.
| Feb 17, 2014
Business, labor at odds over toughening of OSHA silica dust rule
OSHA says the rules will protect workers and prevent 700 fatalities annually. Others say the rules would hurt businesses and jobs.