Chicago ranks No. 1 in green buildings

By Blair Kamin
September 17, 2009

View the story here:
 http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/09/-chicago-is-no-1-in-green.html


Mayor Richard M. Daley famously wants to make Chicago the greenest city in America. By one measure, he's done it.

Chicago now has more certified green buildings than any other city in the country, according to figures I received yesterday from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The council reports that 88 projects in Chicago have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Portland, Or. was next with 73 LEED buildings and Seattle third with 63.

New York was 7th with 46 and Los Angeles 9th with 40.

The only small city in the top ten was Grand Rapids, Mich., which ranked 8th with 44.

Projects gain LEED certification by scoring points in a system devised by the council. Points are awarded for a variety of features, including enegy-saving building systems, water conservation and proximity to public transportation. Architects and others have criticized the system, however, and a recent New York Times story detailed how some LEED buildings do not live up to their green billing.

In late 2007, Chicago had 27 LEED-certified buildings, ranking behind Portland and Seattle.

The rankings are current through the end of August, according to Ashley Katz, a spokeswoman for the council. Through mid-September, Chicago has 92 LEED-certified buildings, she said.

Among Chicago's LEED-rated buildings are the McCormick Place West Building and the city's new FBI Building.

Daley has been a vocal advocate of green architecture. Years ago, Chicago's City Hall was outfitted with a lushly-planted green roof (above). The city requires new public buildings to achieve LEED certification. In addition, public and private projects receiving city assistance must either have a green roof or pursue green building certification.

Daley has also been criticized for his environmental record, however, most notably over the failed blue bag recycling program.

Chicago also ranked high in the category of projects registered for LEED certification. Registered projects are not completed but are either in a conceptual phase or under construction. Their developers register with the council with the intent of gaining certification upon completion, Katz explained.

In the registered ranking, New York City was first with 550 and Chicago second with 499.

The council also ranks states by registered projects. California easily leads with 3449, followed by New York with 1546. Illinois was sixth with 936.

Following are the top 10 U.S. cities, ranked by LEED certified buildings:

1. Chicago--88.

2. Portland, Or.--73.

3. Seattle--63.

4. Washington, D.C.--57.

5. Atlanta--53.

6. San Francisco--50.

7. New York City--46.

8. Grand Rapids, Mich.--44.

9. Los Angeles--40.

10. Boston--38.

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USGBC— Green fits message of worship buildings

The FIXnet™ Team - Saturday, January 02, 2010

As Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious, more religious groups are looking to make their worship spaces sustainable. The efforts range from small country congregations using energy-efficient bulbs to megachurches complying with complex green-building codes.

By going green, most worship buildings can cut their energy costs by 30 percent, said Jerry Lawson, of the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Congregations program. About 2,000 of the nearly 310,000 houses of worship in the U.S. participate in the EPA program.

 
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Where It's Greener

The FIXnet™ Team - Friday, January 01, 2010

"Where It's Greener: As sustainability becomes more important, these cities are setting the standard"
Author:    Tiffany Meyers
Source:    US News & World Report
Date Written:    1/27/2009

Cities across the U.S. have at last realized the need to take action against global warming. Implementing some of the most innovative, far-ranging environmental programs and plans for residents and, in particular, business owners, the 10 cities featured here have earned themselves a rightful place on Entrepreneur's sustainability map.

Chicago
Population: 2,836,658
LEED -Certified Buildings: 48 (More Than Any Other North American City)
New Take On Futures Trading: The Chicago Climate Exchange Is North America's Only Voluntary, Legally Binding Cap And Trade Program To Reduce Co2--The Future, Indeed.
The Green Exchange: At its launch this year, this renovated factory aims to be the epicenter of green commerce, housing more than 100 green businesses (greenexchange.com). 
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Green-Retrofit Work Thrives In Uncertain Economic Times

The FIXnet™ Team - Friday, January 01, 2010

As the recession grinds on, some consultants are finding an emerging outlet by updating older buildings from power hogs into green stewards. The trend is attracting a fresh round of eco-savvy tenants.

Chicago is home to two large projects, examples of advancing efforts to green up existing buildings. In early December, 172 buildings nationwide were certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System, a program created in 2004. More than 2,000 other buildings are seeking to obtain such certification, according to the Washington, D.C.-based group.

Green-Retrofit Work Thrives In Uncertain Economic Times 
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