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By Jeanne Beaudry, Alliance for Sustainable Colorado

In light of rising energy costs and concern about global warming, it is not surprising that Colorado has taken it upon itself to become a leader in sustainable development. Gov. Bill Ritter’s “Greening of State Government” executive order resulted in the successful passage of the High Performance Buildings Act (SB 51) which went into effect on Sept. 1, further propelling Colorado’s burgeoning sustainable economy.

SB 51 requires state agencies or departments embarking upon a substantial renovation, design or construction of a state-funded facility of more than 5,000 square feet to pursue U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certification. This raises the bar on the quality of buildings and provides model language for local governments and commercial building codes.

Just as Amendment 37 and its renewable portfolio standard spurred development of a new energy economy in Colorado, the High Performance Building Act will have a ripple effect in the economy, helping to foster a growing economic opportunity for businesses in green building, energy efficiency and related industries.

Green building strategies include recycled building materials, maximizing natural lighting in building design and installing energy-saving appliances that can reduce overall energy use by 30 percent to 35 percent (and up to 80 percent in some of the best-performing buildings), resulting in considerable long-term cost savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased employee productivity.

Currently, U.S. buildings account for 12 percent of water use, 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and 70 percent of electricity consumption according to the U.S. Green Building Council. With this in mind, each LEED-certified building provides on average of 30 percent to 50 percent in water savings, 30 percent in carbon reductions and 30 percent in energy savings.
Throughout the country, green building practices are increasingly being mandated. According to the Progressive Investor, nine states and 40-plus municipalities have passed legislation mandating LEED-certified buildings.

And commercial buildings that don’t build or upgrade to LEED standards will soon become obsolete because LEED buildings have lower operating costs compared to standard buildings.
Gov. Ritter’s “Greening of State Government” will spur business opportunities in Colorado and it positions our state as a leader in sustainable development. Many see a time coming soon when all buildings will have to be as energy efficient as LEED silver or gold requirements. As more become familiar with green building, the cost goes down and the demand rises. At the end of the day, who wouldn’t want to live in a state that promotes the triple bottom line: people, planet and profits?

Jeanne Beaudry is executive director of The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado.

READER COMMENTS

PUULEEZ!!! Absolutely no one can scientifically demonstrate that "global warming" is occurring. Absolutely no one. There are just too many variables that have to be measured over too long a period to be able to (again SCIENTIFICALLY) prove that is occurring, much less that anything man is doing is part of it. Re: Greening. I've been a builder for over 30 years, and absolutely everyone talks hot about "building green"...until it comes time for them to actually pay the greenbacks needed to incorporate them into their homes. I've NEVER had a client actually follow through when they see the hard costs of "building green"; even with the hypothetical payback periods. The only reason government is getting away with it is they have total access to the wallet of that idiot of all idiots...the taxpayer.

Gene, don’t be so negative. Cataclysms happen aside from human influence on our environment. Volcanoes meteorites, the wobble of the earth itself. All contribute to the heating and cooling of our planet. Personally I would rather see Exel go with wind, solar, hydrodynamic or even Geothermal power. All are cleaner, simply healthier to all of us as well as our future generations. The economic impact of going green is substantial. Putting electricity back on the grid for you nay-sayers to pay me for. Is exceptionally satisfying. Not just in regards to the bank account.

. . . sorry, was "educating myself" on buildings using electricity! They do! Hey, I probably don't have the problem with coal that you do, Dan. Remember, some scientists even have th audacity to question the amount of human effect on global temperatures. Easy, now. That was where I was coming from with the "premise" to all these measures in green buildings. I totally agree any economies in operation should be considered. It is just that all these measures promoted by the greens, are mostly measured in social terms, as opposed to ecomonic terms. I know, I know. Go and ask an appraiser the value of a green building as opposed to an ordinary building. Not that obivious in real value. . . oh, by the way, . . go atomic power!

There are countless statistics proving the profitability of green building. These facts don't need to be fudged. When you subtract the upfront cost of going green by the amount you save in 5-10 years it equals out. The kicker happens to be after you have recouped the original cost and you have begun to save money that would've been spent on utilities. This is simple addition and subtraction, raw facts...

"The facts are clear: Studies have shown..."

Sierra Club studies, Earth First Studies, Greepeace studies and Alliance for Sustainable Colorado studies should not be confused with "facts." They are closer to road apples than facts; or should I say B.S.

This is intellectual sasquatch not based on any fact, but based on a "feel good" agenda. If it made economic sense, the private sector would have already been there, they don't need studies from agenda groups to tell them how to make money. In the meantime, such vomit comes at the expense of Colorado's competitive position.

HOAX PAYS A VISIT TO DENVER:

Former Vice President Al Gore will be at the Wells Fargo Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center to present his multimedia show "An Inconvenient Truth."

Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $500. The $500 tickets get you an audience with Gore at a reception.

According to the website for the film, Gore recovered from his defeat in the 2000 presidential election to "re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change."
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So, this moonbat environut sets himself up as The Pope of Global Warming and charges $500 for a private audience! This snake-oil peddling fraud is making a big business out of GW and is living large--when he's not selling $500 audiences, he's peddling his company's carbon credits (carbon indulgences).

This "Elmer Gantry" needs to be monitored by the FBI!

Unfortunately, it takes something such as a change in law to get the public sector to do the right thing. The private decision makers spending their own money will already make the right decisions - why it is always better to limit the size of government.

If I’m not mistaken, this is for state buildings, not the private sector.

As such, the private sector has begun building green, because it's profitable.

I think some folks would dismiss anything that’s innovative especially if it benefits the planet.

These comment are hilarious, rhetoric is easy to come by when you not discussing the facts.

The facts are clear:

Studies have shown that a median payback can range from 4-6 years based on costs of $1.00sf (0.6% of total construction costs) for commissioning alone. The payback is even faster for retro-commissioning of existing buildings, with a nine month return at a median cost of $0.27/sf for an average of 18% energy savings.

Regarding your issue of Colorado's competitive status, I think the general feeling is one of moving toward the future not backwards. In addition, the private sector has already begun implementing these profitable and sustainable measures.

Lastly, Gene let’s get educated on the subject: buildings use electricity and electricity is generated from coal, lots of coal.

I think it is time to stop spinning the issue, let’s focus on the facts; this is a perfect example of profits and the planet coming together under one roof.

Conspicuously missing from this enviro-alarmist's letter is any obvious cost/benefit analysis. Needless to say, that always seems to be the case for the environuts who are selling their brand of snake-oil to the public. Such "feel-good" prorgams only serve to raise business costs and make Colorado a less competitive economy from which investment capital will either flee or avoid. That costs Colorado jobs, incomes and tax receipts as well.

And since water vapor comprises 95% of all greenhouse gas, that puts into serious doubt this enviro-alarmist's claim that building account for 40% of such.

Jeanne needs to stop playing scientist and go back to eating all-natural, organic, no MSG, range-fed, no artifical coloring granola bars and bean sprouts.

The premise, "global warming & raising energy costs" are quickly established as a basis - not so fast. Then, "greenhouse gas emissions and employee productivity" are thrown in. Huge assumptions are implicit, but then we must not question the good-intents, just sign-on to Sustainable Liberalism. It is like clean water. Who can be against it? But, wait. Might the solution to raising energy costs lie somewhere in the production of energy? They have an aswer to that also, . . Ritter's windmills. Actually there are also other answers. Why would a person build a building that costs so much to run? Why do we have to have laws and mandates to make him build it to run cheaper? Some government officials just know better than others, I guess. If in doubt, just vote for the good people. . . . a voter for a Sustainable Society.

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