USGBC Announces International Rankings of Top 10 Countries for LEED Green Building

By Grey Lee

 

Demand for sustainable buildings continues to grow throughout the globe

 

Washington, D.C. (July 22, 2015)—Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced its ranking of the Top 10 Countries for LEED, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system. The Top 10 list highlights countries outside of the U.S. that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation, illustrating the ever-growing international demand for LEED green buildings. The announcement comes at a time of increased international focus on climate change mitigation in the lead up to the United Nation’s COP21 climate negotiations this December. 

 

“International demand has grown steadily for tools supporting sustainable economic growth, and it has become increasingly clear that we are reaching a tipping point around environmental sustainability. It is now impossible to view social and economic development as separate issues from a robust sustainability agenda,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The global success of LEED in these countries is a sign that international business leaders and policy makers recognize that a commitment to transforming the built environment is crucial to addressing major environmental challenges. The countries on this list are pushing this commitment forward.” 

 

The 10 countries that made the list for 2015 are geographically and culturally diverse, representing seven of the world’s 20 largest single-nation economies by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (China, Germany, Brazil, India, Canada, South Korea and Turkey), as well as six of the top 11 emitters of greenhouse gases (China, India, Germany, South Korea, Canada and Brazil). While Canada tops the list, Brazil and the Republic of Korea have moved up in the rankings and Turkey and Sweden are new to the Top 10 this year.

 

The analysis used to develop the list ranks countries in terms of gross square meters and numbers of LEED projects to date. LEED-certified spaces use less energy and water resources, save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. The United States, the birthplace of LEED, is not included in this list but remains the world’s largest market for LEED. The U.S. is the world’s largest economy by GDP as well as the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

 

Every day, nearly 172,000 GSM of space is certified using LEED, and there are currently more than 69,800 commercial and institutional projects representing 1.23 billion GSM of space participating in the green building rating system. An additional 76,500 residential units have been certified under LEED for Homes. LEED projects can now be found in more than 150 countries and territories across the world. Canada ranks number one on the list as the largest user of LEED outside of the U.S. with 26.63 million gross square meters (GSM) of LEED space. There are now over 4,814 LEED-registered and LEED-certified projects representing 63.31 million GSM of LEED space in Canada. China (21.97 million GSM), India (13.24 million GSM) and Brazil (5.22 million GSM), three of the four BRIC economies, finished second through fourth on this year’s list, respectively. These three countries currently represent more than 33 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with China and India representing the largest source of projected growth in global emissions in the coming decades. 

 

The Republic of Korea (4.81 million GSM) and Taiwan (3.84 million GSM) join China in providing a strong East Asian contingent to the 2015 rankings. Having two of the original tiger economies join China, India and Brazil on this year’s list demonstrates that LEED is taking hold in some of the world’s fastest growing economies, and that green buildings have enormous strategic value in terms of controlling emissions in countries that many climate watchers have noted hold the key to staving off the worst impacts of climate change. Germany (4.01 million GSM) and Sweden (2.54 million GSM) represent Europe on this list, with Germany finishing sixth and Sweden making the list for the first time in 10th place. Both nations are routinely cited for their innovation and leadership in international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Middle Eastern countries, United Arab Emirates (3.13 million GSM) and Turkey (2.95 million GSM) have both had strong green building years. The UAE increased its total amount of LEED certified space by 72 percent over last year, and climbed from ninth place overall in 2014 to eighth overall in 2015. Turkey made the Top 10 list for the first time in the nation’s history, finishing ninth overall.  

 

This is the second year that USGBC has provided rankings on the Top 10 Countries for LEED outside of the U.S., with placement in the Top 10 based on cumulative GSM of space certified to LEED in each nation as of May 2015.

Residential Green Building – Monthly Update – July 2015

By Celis Brisbin, Programs Manager


On July 13th, the Residential Green Building Committee welcomed Galen Nelson, with Mass CEC (The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center) who spoke about some of the commercialization projects the organization is involved with. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is dedicated to accelerating the success of clean energy technologies, companies and projects in Massachusetts—while creating high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth for the people of Massachusetts.

MassCEC provides early-stage investments to startup companies, funds renewable energy rebates for residents and businesses and supports the development of a local clean energy workforce. Since its inception in 2009, MassCEC has helped clean energy companies grow, supported municipal clean energy projects and invested in residential and commercial renewable energy installations creating a robust marketplace for innovative clean technology companies and service providers. Galen spoke about this important industry growing at 10-15%, which was pleasant news. A few highlights of the presentation included wind turbine blade testing facilities, and multi-purpose ports.  Galen spoke about the challenges of the industry, and how the MASS CEC bridges those challenges through research and selective partners. Nelson then moved on to speak about solar ready homes, the IoT, and energy storage. 


 

 

For his full presentation, please click here! Once again, a big thanks to Galen Nelson for his time and wisdom!

 

Source: Michael Sigmon, Residential Green Building Committee

 

 

 


GreenFest, a Cultural Festival for All

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

Photo Credit: Boston GreenFest

July 20, 2015

We are looking for a few good volunteers to join us at GreenFest.

 

It’s time for us to rise up as a human race and take bigger steps to protect our planet! It’s time to stand up against bad practices causing climate change and deteriorating our environment! Your time is now! An event that will bring all communities, all ethnic groups and all social groups together for a greater common purpose is here and it’s called GreenFest!

 

Join USGBC MA in fighting for more green buildings at the 8th Annual Boston GreenFest on August 21-23 starting at 12pm at the Boston City Hall Plaza. There will be FREE entertainment, FREE green education and FREE inspiration to transform your own communities, cities, country, and world into a cleaner and safer place to live!

 

USGBC MA will be a part of this celebration with a bright educational BOOTH, and invites its members to help us represent our mission for increased energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green buildings throughout all of Boston! You can help us staff the booth and meet and green visitors and help them learn about how green buildings are the best buildings.

 

SIGN UP NOW to volunteer for a shift and represent our Chapter in a very green way! What better way to thank our environment for such beautiful summer weather than to join in on GreenFest?

 

U.S. Senate Bill S.697- Toxic to Our State's Green Efforts!

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

July 17, 2015

Article information provided by Rachelle Ain in the Advocacy Committee

While regulations on Toxic Substances are being addressed on Capitol Hill, local efforts to ban toxics are also taking place on Beacon Hill. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform will tighten regulation on toxics in building materials and products to ensure healthier buildings for the people of Massachusetts to work and live in. Our Chapter continues to promote a greener community with stricter regulations on companies using toxics in our building materials, which will result in less toxics exposure for our citizens.

Since its inception, the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act has been in need of updating and improvement. The law exempted over 60,000 chemicals already on the market, and has since hindered the EPA from identifying and regulating chemicals. TSCA has largely been ineffective at regulating the safe use of new chemicals. This year, at the Federal level, both the House and the Senate have advanced TSCA reform bills. The Senate Bill, S.697, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, was introduced by Senators Udall (NM) and Vitter (LA) in March, gained committee approval in April, and is expected to go for final vote at the end of July. The House Bill, TSCA Modernization Act (TMA-DD / HR 2576), was introduced by Congressman Shimkus (IL) and passed the House at the end of July.

There are complexities to pushing for the TSCA reform because both bills fall short on effective chemical regulation. The Senate bill in particular has been criticized for serious federal overreach because of its state preemption provision, which would ban state regulation of a chemical that is being reviewed by the EPA. It is notable that the chemical industry has been supportive of the Senate bill, undoubtedly, and the bill would further weaken current law by requiring EPA to set aside claimed “low priority” chemicals without a safety determination.

Massachusetts bills on toxic substances include Bill S.1132: To protect children and families from harmful flame retardants (Sponsored by Senator Cynthia Stone Creem) and Bill H.2119: To prohibit the distribution in commerce of children's products and upholstered furniture containing certain flame retardants (Sponsored by Representative Marjorie C. Decker). Both of the above bills are focused on flame retardants in products, which particularly affect children, families, and firefighters. Without realizing it, many families are exposed to these chemicals on direct contact with their household products, leading to chronic diseases and disorders, birth defects, and several cancers. These bills will initiate the phase out of flame retardants in children’s products and residential furniture. In addition, Bill H.2119 prohibits any manufacturer, distributor, or retailer to sell, offer for sale, manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the United States any children’s product or upholstered furniture that contains a flame retardant specified in subsection (c) for any part of the product or furniture.

The Senate Bill S.697 for TSCA reform appears to be gearing up for a vote in the next two weeks. Our Advocacy Committee is reaching out to many organizations to talk about advocacy efforts our group may consider. If Bill S.697 limits regulation of chemicals on a federal level, it may also put a damper on efforts being made at the state level. In the meanwhile, please send a letter to Senators Warren and Markey, stating your concern opposing the Senate Bill S.697.

Check out our Healthy Materials & Toxics Advocacy Page for more information!

 

Solar Day of Action on Wed 7/15!

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

CALLING ALL SOLAR AND GREEN COMRADES!

It is time for action! On Wednesday, July 15th, our USGBC MA Chapter along with the Mass Solar Coalition, Environment Massachusetts, Clean Water Action, the Sierra Club, Better Future Project, SolarCity and others are asking our members, activists, employees and partners to call their Representatives and demand action to raise the caps on net metering and let solar grow.

 

Here is the action page with an easy how-to and script!

 

In addition, Environment Massachusetts will be hosting a phone bank on Wednesday from 5-7pm. If you are in Boston and can spend some time calling activists to generate calls, please contact Ben Hellerstein to ask for details.

Visit our Advocacy Page to read more on our effort toward Net Metering Improvements.

National Grid commits to support 2015 Green Apple Day of Service

By Celis Brisbin, Programs Manager


 


 
 
 
We are pleased to announce that our friends at National Grid are committing to support our 2015 Green Apple Day of Service. National Grid has a longstanding relationship with communities in the Commonwealth and we are proud to be partnering with them again this year after their strong support in 2014.

Green Apple Day of Service 2015

One quarter of Americans pass through a school on a given school day. Here at the the USGBC MA we are committed to green buildings and the savings, health and financial benefits which come with green design. The Green Apple Day of Service, Sept. 26, 2015, will bring together thousands of students, teachers, parents and community leaders from around the globe to improve our school environments through service projects, education, community events and more. Our vast network of champions will demonstrate the strength and breadth of our movement, leaving a meaningful and lasting local impact on our world’s schools.

 

 


Past Projects Sponsored by National Grid (2014)

Last year the Chapter coordinated with 38 schools for the Day of Service. Of these schools, National Grid sponsored the following four schools allowing them to be most effective with their projects. Read below to see the impact!

 

 

If your organization would like to join National Grid in supporting the Day of Service, please find more information here and email celis@usgbcma.org.

If you are interested in participating in the program, please find more information here and email celis@usgbcma.org.

 

 

 

 

 

Communities Keep on Getting Greener in Massachusetts

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

Photo Credit: MA Department of Energy Resources

 

The Green Communities Act, Senate Bill 2768: An Act relative to green communities, was signed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2008 as an aggressive step towards energy efficiency and renewable energy in Massachusetts. This Act requires utilities to increase investment in energy efficiency measures, mandates the design and implementation of three-year state-wide energy efficiency plans by utility companies, and encourages greener buildings through updated codes, education, training and financial assistance.

This Act has enhanced Massachusetts’s efforts in energy efficiency by helping to get over many of the hurdles in the way of green progress. Some of these benefits include expanding investment by utilities; allowing municipalities, businesses and individuals to take advantage of net metering programs and net generation credits; requiring utilities to connect and contract with renewable resource customers to the grid; increasing the percentage of renewable resource generated power by the grid; and allowing for smart meter pilot programs to look into more innovative structures for the current rate system.

In addition to the abundant progress since 2008, the Green Communities program also encourages and supports towns looking into energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects. Creating a long-term structure for the green movement, the Act plays a significant role in statewide and national efforts not only for transforming our physical building structures into sustainable communities, but more importantly, our perceptual outlook of turning these policies into concrete action.

The Green Communities Act has resulted in calculable and incalculable benefits for Massachusetts and for the global community as a whole: job creation in the thousands; energy efficiency return on investment in the millions, a cleaner environment, a healthier society, and a clearer conscience which go beyond any calculable satisfaction.

As elaborated in the Boston Globe and the Analysis Group, the Act is projected to consistently increase the level of a greener community, but alongside other fruitful legislation such as the Green Jobs Act (Massachusetts Clean Energy Center) and the Global Warming Solutions Act, passed under the Patrick Administration. However, this positive momentum does not come without cost and complications. The net metering cap has been a hot topic in the recent months, addressing yet another barrier for greening energy resources through particularly solar alternatives and community solar. Our Chapter’s Advocacy Committee is dedicated to seeing Bill S.1770 pass through legislation to satisfy one of the many goals of the Green Communities Act.

 

 

Efforts Led By ELM to Keep Green Budget Alive

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

This entry prepared by our advocacy partners at the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM)

It seems that the recent winter extravaganza in Boston was not enough proof for legislators to refocus state funding towards climate change and other efforts to alter our impact on the environment. The recent designation of a meager 0.6% ($221M) for environmental agencies was passed in the Legislature this week and is up for Governor Baker’s approval. This update is not encouraging for the members and advocates of our green communities, as this amount does not even reach 1% of the total approved $38.1B budget (H 3650) for the 2016 Fiscal year. In fact, this should be a concern for all, considering the fact that less improvement in protecting the environment will prove grave consequences for all.

The USGBC MA Chapter, along with more than 65 organizations throughout Massachusetts, joined forces with Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) which has led the call for a return to “1% for the Environment,” a level of investment the state has not made in several years, but one to which Governor Baker has committed for his first term. This “Green Budget” calls for funding restorations to programs that have been disproportionately cut over the years and have yet to return to their pre-recession levels. 

ELM Legislative Director, Erica Mattison goes on to explain the importance of maintaining a higher standard for the Green Budget to ensure the sustainability of our communities and the environment in which we live in. She highlights the right we have to a clean environment, guaranteed to us in the Massachusetts Constitution, and the ability to achieve that through a supporting state budget.  Mattison continues:

“Restoring funding to these agencies will help ensure that our water bodies are healthy, fishable, and swimmable; our state parks and beaches are open, staffed, and well-maintained; and we’re resilient to a changing climate. What’s at stake here is safeguarding public health and protecting the interests of future generations, as well as maintaining our quality of life and strengthening our economy.”

 

Environmental highlights of the budget include:

·         Funding for a State Climatologist ($200k)

·         A doubling of funding for Department of Conservation and Recreation Stormwater Management (to bring it to over $800k)

·         A $2M increase for DCR State Parks & Recreation

·         A $2M increase for DCR Retained Revenue to enable the agency to retain up to $16M of the funds it generates

·         $10M from the state’s surplus will be transferred to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund.

 

Lowlights include substantial reductions for:

·         Climate adaptation planning (Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs)

·         Office of Dam Safety (Department of Conservation and Recreation)

In The Spotlight: Marie Mercurio and Urban Agriculture in Boston

By Jessie Miller


By Jessie Miller

I am a member of the Outreach Committee of the USGBC MA Chapter and we strive to highlight great people who are doing great work in the green building community and beyond. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of chatting with Marie Mercurio, Senior Planner with the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Marie is a co-author of Article 89, the progressive and game changing zoning article that helped to create urban agriculture opportunities in Boston. To this day, Marie continues to facilitate urban agriculture activities around the city since the Article's adoption in 2013. 

At the heart of Article 89, the regulation intends to “breakdown the barriers and the obstacles to grow food locally.” Before its inception, urban farming was challenging and “everything had to go to the zoning board of appeal.” A combination of foodie entrepreneurs, individuals, and other groups worked with the BRA and city organizations to help redefine citywide zoning and after three years of testing pilot farms, planning, and negotiating Article 89 came into existence. What does this mean for you and me? Thanks to Marie and her team’s work, “all ground level farming up to one acre is allowed as a by-right”, meaning that we can now grow food on up to one acre of ground level land in Boston without any required negotiations with the zoning board of appeal. 

Marie has been at the forefront of helping cities, individuals, and organizations navigate and understand Article 89, both in its current state and its ability to be leveraged to help expand urban agriculture in new directions. When we sat down, she jumped in and told me about her day spent with Cambridge city planners and how she guided them through the ins and outs of Article 89’s development and implementation: “People know what we have done [in Boston] and so they are looking to do a similar type of regulation for urban agriculture and farming.” 

Marie also takes Article 89 one step further by helping people use it as a foundation to pursue other agricultural interests, such as animals in the urban setting: “the nice thing now is they have the backing of Article 89.” She smiles as she talks about her hands on approach with Boston citizens to help them understand the potential of urban agriculture in Boston. She continues to stay involved with practitioners and farmers to develop and manage Article 89’s implementation in Boston.

Where does Marie see urban agriculture heading? Since January 2015, there have been several farms designated under Article 89 and two so far have been stamped for approval by the BRA for Comprehensive Farm Review, a design review process they created through Article 89 ensuring farms would make a good neighbor. She acknowledges there are more growth opportunities for Article 89, particularly with freight farming. She is keeping an eye on how rooftops evolve to support urban agriculture as well as interesting technological advancements in the urban agriculture field, specifically hydroponics in rooftop greenhouses, such as described in this Ted Talk by Mohamed Hage. 

On the other hand, Marie works to ensure continued public involvement for the backbone of Article 89, ground level farming. The regulation was influenced by a groundswell of public support and Marie recognizes that varied interests and programming, such as youth involvement and other similar initiatives, are key to Article 89’s success. 

While Marie does not have a green thumb herself, she is at the forefront of helping Article 89 evolve in Boston and beyond. She purposefully “inserted [herself] into this project” because she knew this was her calling. City planning has been Marie’s expertise for a number of years. Her first job out of planning school being in rural Alaska where she was the Village Planner for 20 Eskimo villages, traveling to community meetings by bush planes. Marie glows when she talks about how she knows that she is “amongst kindred spirits” when she helps other cities plan for their own Article 89s and as they “head in our direction.”

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If you know of someone who should be featured like Marie, please email outreach@usgbcma.org

LEED-ing by Example Around the World

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

July 6, 2015

 

Even as we focus our attention on more LEED-certified buildings and more LEED-accredited professionals in Massachusetts, LEED is making its way around the globe. USGBC (National) reaffirms that “LEED isn’t simply a stamp of approval but a resource for communities, a roadmap to sustainability. LEED is adaptable and can be region-specific, enabling professionals to connect and focus on issues relative to their country.” Although energy efficiency and long-term energy savings are incentives for many to consider the LEED certification in any country, the positive effects on the humans in buildings and environment surrounding buildings are equally substantial.

 

During a trip to the United States, a delegation from the Sichuan Province of China visited the USGBC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to discuss sustainable development and how to promote awareness of green building benefits in their region. Instead of asserting green building education onto the people, the Chief Planner of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in Sichuan decided to take a more effective approach to promote green buildings by LEED-ing by example. He wanted to learn more from USGBC in order to showcase his own LEED-certified project with the intention to spark interest in energy efficiency education and make a more powerful impact on the rest of the building community in Sichuan.

 

In China, according to USGBC, there are already 120 million gross square meters of LEED space and more than 2,100 LEED projects. Around this time a year ago, China ranked 2nd in the USGBC's Top 10 Countries For LEED Outside of the U.S. with 96.22 million gross square meters of LEED space and 1,638 total LEED projects, which is approximately a 20% increase! Other LEED-ing countries ranked top 10 in 2014 included India, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Brazil, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Finland and finally, with Canada coming in at first.

 

LEED project teams are implemented in more than 140 countries and territories, demonstrating LEED’s applicability in global, regional and local structures that result in reducing energy bills and creating a healthier environment indoors and outdoors for all. If countries around the world are seeing the power of LEED, there should be no delay in the rapid expansion and application of LEED in the U.S. for more green buildings!