Page 71 - BWM March 2013

March 2013 | Business World Magazine | 71
the kind of data to show how a building per-
forms... in terms of the health of the environ-
ment, its functioning in the landscape, the ef-
ficiencies in its operation... the performance
of these buildings is now our number one
priority,” says Platt. USGBC is now certify-
ing 1.6 million square feet a day to LEED.
More than half of that is in existing build-
ings.
In gaining a better understanding of per-
formance measures, Platts says the USGBC
will continue to find ways to better dem-
onstrate the full value and benefit of green
building. In this case, performance evalua-
tions will encompass measurements in effi-
ciency relating to energy use, water use, air
quality, and the impact that all these things
assert on the environment and operations in-
side the building.
There is a growing literature of green
building research, says Platt. He has been
particularly encouraged by a recent study
conducted by Notre Dame University. In
that study, researchers analyzed data pro-
duced by 100 retail locations of PNC Bank.
They found that the annual utilities cost
per employee in their LEED facilities was
$675.26 lower than in non-green facilities.
Better performance, in this case, included
increased productivity from employees and
lower costs of utility rates per square foot
than that of other branches. Platt says the
research appears sound, and it complements
other independent studies that show a stron-
ger value proposition for LEED buildings,
such as faster lease rates or higher occupancy
rates.
Platt says the USGBC will be undertak-
ing their own research, working with owners
and operators of LEED certified buildings,
and collect and compare data so the organi-
zation can better provide insight into oppor-
tunities to improve performance in existing
buildings.
The USGBC has created an online re-
source known as the Green Building Infor-
mation Gateway (www.gbig.org). The site
provides an interface to compare and con-
trast various LEED certified buildings es-
tablished throughout the world. Platt says
this Internet resource is helping to generate
a new era of analytical insight as well as en-
gagement and excitement (not to mention
bragging rights) among those who have un-
dergone LEED certification.
Another priority aim for the future relates