Page 133 - The Green Building Bottom Line The Real Cost of Sustainable Building

112 CHAPTER 4

Finally, there is the thought process of determining the environmental objectives
of a project. A manager who simply gives the charge to her subordinates deliver me
a LEED building has given virtually no direction as to what the objectives of such a
building are: Reduce energy or water consumption, by how much? Focus on those
aspects of a building that will help improve operational efficiency, how? Get LEED
certification, what level and for what purpose? The market demand for LEED build-
ings is growing exponentially, to the point where it will soon become the new base-
line standard for construction and hence something of a commodity. The developer
who takes environmental impacts seriously or the business person who is looking for
a competitive advantage already needs to think beyond the label of LEED to the
underlying purpose of what her company is trying to achieve. That thought process,
like everything else in a green project, takes time before a smooth process takes hold.
It took our company probably three years to manage this learning curve to the point
where we can now develop a green building with the same efficiency of time and money
as a conventional project. The first aspect of this learning curve involved investing in
resources so that a significant portion of our staff became well versed in the LEED pro-
gram—to the degree that about 80 percent of our staff is now LEED accredited, with
everyone taking the exam at least once. The investment includes providing for a one-day
workshop for all staff, covering the cost of the LEED exam, paying a bonus to all who
pass, and the lost opportunity for time spent at the workshop and/or taking the exam.
Total cost of this investment was approximately $49,000, as indicated in Table 4.1.
A carryover part of this learning curve entailed the engagement of non-Melaver,
Inc. partners in the LEED program. While this was never mandated, the fact that so
many within our company were ramping up their knowledge of green development
had a carryover effect with those who were working with us. Our legal counsel, IT
vendor, and outside marketing firm all became LEED accredited, along with some two
dozen other professionals (architects, landscape designers, contractors, sub-contractors)
directly associated with our early LEED projects.
Yet another part of this learning curve involved the school of hard knocks, learning
the ropes the hard way, directly in the field. We hired LEED consultants early on, only to

TABLE 4.1 COST OF INVESTING IN THE LEED PROGRAM

ITEM COST PER PERSON # OF STAFF MEMBERS TOTAL COST
LEED course $350 27 $ 9,450
LEED exam $300 27 $ 8,100
LEED bonus for passing $750 22 $16,500

Subtotal $34,050
Lost opportunity $14,800
Totals $48,850