The District of Columbia has more green buildings than other large U.S. cities on a per capita basis, according to the 2012 Green Building Report. D.C.’s policies have made it a leader in highly efficient building construction and renovation.
New goals will likely prompt the District to raise the efficiency bar even higher. To help guide policies for a new era of green design, D.C.’s Department of the Environment commissioned a study to assess costs and benefits associated with net zero energy, net zero water, and Living Buildings.
The Net Zero and Living Building Challenge Financial Study: A Cost Comparison Report for Buildings in the District of Columbia was conducted by International Living Future Institute, New Buildings Institute, and Skanska. The team’s analysis identified incremental cost premiums for deep energy and water conservation as well as for photovoltaic and water reuse systems that would bring a project to net zero.
The cost premium for energy efficiency was 1%-12% depending on building type, and rose to 5%-19% for net zero energy. “If the owner has sufficient tax appetite, tax credits and renewable energy credits make the return on investment approximately 30%, whereas the return on investment for energy efficiency alone was in the range of 5-12%,” the report says.
Read the full report at: http://newbuildings.org/net-zero-living-building-challenge-financial-study
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jun 8, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 8, 2020
Frank Lloyd Wright sites set to reopen and construction jobs rise by 464,000.
Codes and Standards | Jun 8, 2020
Reopened offices raise liability risk for businesses and owners
Risks may not be covered by property insurance.
Codes and Standards | Jun 4, 2020
American Wood Council updates report on fire resistance of wood members and assemblies
Provides new examples and background on mass timber calculations.
Codes and Standards | Jun 3, 2020
Virginia makes GCs liable for subs employee wages
New law allows workers to sue GCs for wages in class action.
Codes and Standards | Jun 2, 2020
Designers, owners reinventing restaurants to cope with COVID-19
Options include rearranged seating, mobile ordering, designated flow spaces.
Codes and Standards | Jun 1, 2020
How owners should comply with OSHA roofing safety guidelines
Buildings should have fall protection and restraint provisions for those who go on roofs.
Codes and Standards | May 29, 2020
AIA releases new, updated sustainable project documents
Streamlined sustainable design and construction process included.
Codes and Standards | May 28, 2020
USGBC outlines how it will support pandemic recovery efforts
Includes emergency guidance and upgrades to the LEED green building program.
Codes and Standards | May 27, 2020
Office market could be COVID-19 casualty
As companies get used to work at home, post-pandemic office market could collapse.
Codes and Standards | May 26, 2020
Architectural Reuse Council will step up efforts to reuse construction waste
Cabinets, appliances, lighting, and lumber diverted from landfills to be repurposed.
