Green is the priority in new construction
Recycled materials, energy efficiency mark new buildings
A green bottom line has always been the goal when commercial developers put shovels in the ground. But green development is increasingly about environmental goals, not just the color of money.
From bike racks and carpets made from recycled soda bottles, to geothermal heating and super-efficient insulation, a growing number of commercial buildings in Western New York are going green with environmentally friendly materials and systems.
“Some clients are driven by environmental beliefs, others are focused on how it will impact cost/benefit ratios,” said James F. Dentinger, president of Buffalo-based McGuire Development Co. “Green has become a topic of discussion in every project we do.”
One of those projects is the Brain & Spine Center, 400 International Drive, Amherst. The medical center was constructed using recycled steel, which qualified the project for a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority.
McGuire also worked with Meals on Wheels in Buffalo to build energy-saving insulations, heating systems and lighting into the agency’s new commissary.
Green talk is part of daily operations at Amherst’s Ciminelli Development Co., which jumped ahead of the green curve two decades ago when it installed a geothermal heating system at its Essjay Road headquarters.
Ciminelli’s internal “Green Team” oversees all of the company’s own green initiatives within the office. Efforts include an annual electronics recycling day, organic vegetable and herb garden, and a bi-weekly e-mail called the “Green Gram” that highlights environmentally friendly ideas for the home and office.
A similar electronic newsletter is being created to distribute to the company’s tenants. Over the past four years, a dozen Ciminelli staffers have attained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation. That added green expertise has led to establishment of a green consulting division and eight LEED projects.
Vice President of Development Timothy Vaeth, the first Ciminelli staffer to earn LEED accreditation, said one of the greatest barriers to pursuit of green development initiatives is the “cost myth.”
Yes, there are added upfront costs to incorporate green components to projects — anywhere from 10 percent to 30 percent — but mid-to long-term pay backs are real.
“We tell our clients that when you examine your operational and life-cycle costs, as well as the green financial incentives that you are now eligible to pursue, implementing a Green Plan can be accomplished at little or no end cost,” Vaeth said.
Amherst’s Uniland Development is finishing one of the area’s most high-profile “green” projects as it transforms the former Thaddeus J. Dulski Federal Office Building in downtown Buffalo into Avant — a mix of hotel, office and condominium space.
The $85 million project saw the 15- story structure torn down to its steel frame and completely rebuilt with loads of green features. In addition to reusing the existing infrastructure instead of demolishing the tower, Uniland also recycled over 7,000 tons of concrete and metals as it gutted the building down to its 38-year-old steel skeleton.
“This is a first for our company, but it’s something we want to keep doing in the future,“ said Uniland Vice President Michael Montante. “Not only are we not filling up landfills with demolition debris — this building will have less of an impact on the environment over its lifetime.”
The goal is to rebuild the structure using the most efficient and environmentally friendly materials and systems feasible. That effort starts with its new facade, a state-of-the-art glass skin designed to remain energy efficient even as the building settles.
Inside, Avant will be outfitted with ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems that will use less electricity, natural gas and water, while cutting emissions into the air and waste water systems by 35 percent.
Interior features, ranging from light fixtures to carpets and finishes will be chosen with green goals in mind. Future tenants will be required to follow a slate of practices to reduce environmental impact.
Uniland plans to transfer its growing green knowledge to an upcoming luxury condominium project on Gates Circle, where a key feature will be an internal lobby wall covered with vegetation that will serve as a “biofilter” for the structure’s air systems.
The developer’s internal green practices include a $1.4 million program launched in 2007 to retrofit lighting and air conditioning across all 23 buildings it controls. This totaled 133 HVAC units and 9,692 light fixtures.
In the first full year after the conversion, the firm said it saved 2.7 million kilowatt hours — an energy cost savings of $414,863 — and the carbon-emission equivalency of taking 415 cars off the road or 5,280 barrels of oil.
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