Best Practice Exchange Events 2003
Cost and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings 2003
Date, Time, Location
November 21, 2003
Presenters & Program Topics
Greg Kats, former Director of Financing for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the US Department of Energy (see full bio below), presented the "Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings" study released by the California Governors office in October 2003.
Green buildings are commonly perceived to be a lot more expensive than
conventional buildings and often not worth the extra cost. Prior to
this report, there has been no comprehensive study of the actual costs
and financial benefits of green buildings. This is surprising because
buildings use a large portion of water, wood, energy and other resources
used in the economy, including about 70% of electricity used. Greg Kats
is the lead author of a 100+ page analysis for 40+ California agencies
(written in partnership with the US Green Building Council) that is
the first study to do so. The bulk of this report focuses on reviewing
and analyzing existing data about the costs and financial benefits of
green buildings. The benefits of building green include reduced energy,
water and waste costs; reduced emissions; reduced cost of moving (churn);
lower operations and maintenance costs; and enhanced productivity and
health. Analysis of these areas indicates that total financial benefits
of green buildings are, conservatively, in the range of 20% of the cost
of construction. This is about ten times the 2% additional cost ($3
-$5/ft2) associated with building green as found in this report.
Greg Kats is a leading expert on clean energy technologies and high
performance buildings. For four years (1997-2001), Mr. Kats served as
the Director of Financing for the $1.1 billion dollar Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the US Department of Energy - the
largest clean technology R&D and deployment program in the US. He
initiated and managed the development of innovative financing initiatives
to support clean energy projects, including a national green power insurance/financing
initiative that the Financial Times described as remarkably high leverage.
He co-founded and, from 1995 to 2001, managed and served as Chairman
of the International Performance Measurement
& Verification Protocol , which has involved hundreds of corporations,
financial and energy-related institutions. The IPMVP is now the de facto
US standard, has served as a technical basis for over $5 billion in
comprehensive building energy and water upgrades, and has been translated
into 10 languages. Mr. Kats initiated and led the successful Department
of Energy effort to persuade the US Security and Exchange Commission
to lift important restrictions on the domestic and international expansion
of US energy service companies. He led development of an innovative
$50 million off balance sheet financing facility for financially challenged
educational institutions. He served on the Energy Secretary's Privatization
Task Force and is Co-Chair of the Finance Committee of the American
Council for Renewable Energy .
Construction & Demolition Waste Management 2003
Date, Time, Location
April 9, 2003
Presenters & Program Topics
Purpose: To educate and inform clients, project managers, building managers and project team of the need and opportunities for salvaging and recycling construction and demolition waste on new construction as well as renovation projects.
- Jim McQuade, Department of Environmental Protection, "Massachusetts Regulations - Beyond 2000 Solid Waste Master Plan." Updates of the new building materials poised to be banned from landfills as of December 31, 2003.
- Dana Draper, Institution Recycling Network, "Recycling Services Available." The barriers and solutions to C&D waste management.
- Rob Gogan, Harvard University Facilities Maintenance Operations, "Harvard Services Available." A summary of the solid waste and recycling services offered to all Harvard properties by the Facilities Maintenance Operations Department.
- Kurt Macnamara, WK Macnamara and John Tessicini, Consigli Construction, "Experiences From the Field." Two C&D sub-contractors will present information that project teams need to know about waste management plans, material and source separation, project team commitment, and offer some keys to success through case studies.
- Jim Curtis, MIT, "Client's Perspective." Jim Curtis will relate his experience of recycling 96% of the construction waste on MIT's Media Lab Extension project.
This forum was jointly sponsored by Harvard Real Estate Services and the Harvard Green Campus Initiative.