BEYOND GREEN

Humans by nature are social creatures, so it’s often easier to get motivated to focus on a task when we know that other people are as committed as we are. The Real Estate professionals in Southern Nevada are by no means the only people in our industry who are committed to building sustainable neighborhoods. After some research, I found that on all seven continents—including Antarctica—there are efforts to build highly sustainable structures.

On the global scale, the World Green Building Council is in the process of planning its World Sustainable Building Conference , to be held in the Fall of 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. The conference is held every three years in a different city.

Conference delegates will visit the sites of leading-edge commercial, residential, and industrial green developments in Australia. The conference itself will work toward a zero-net-greenhouse-emissions target.

The 2008 conference aims to establish a stronger communication link among researchers, policymakers, and market leaders around the world. Organizers John McCarthy and Greg Foliente explain, “How well the research community interacts with industry and government has a significant impact on the speed of technology transfer.”

Conference attendees will present research on green construction. Once the delegates return to their home countries, they will apply their newfound knowledge and excitement to their existing projects. I’ll share with you some green building projects and programs from around the world.

In 2005 the European Commission concluded that the building sector accounts for 40 percent of all energy consumption in Europe. Because reducing energy consumption is a cost-effective way to fight climate change, the Commission founded the GreenBuilding Programme .

Both new constructions and renovations can be certified as GreenBuilding partners. The first such certification in Portugal involved a Lisbon municipal swimming pool, named Piscina Municipal do Vale do Fundãoi . The pool uses passive solar heating as well as rooftop solar collectors to heat the water in the pool, the showers, and the adjoining restaurant. Innovative design and equipment has reduced overall energy consumption in the facility by more than 30 percent.

Meanwhile, in Austria, a 30-year-old church has been renovated according to GreenProgramme standards. The Protestant Church of Stadl Paura has now incorporated solar heating, 10-inch cellulose insulation, and a reduced-power lighting system, for a total energy savings of more than 50 percent. The renovation cost around US$100,000.

Sustainable Energy Africa, based in South Africa, provides research, information dissemination, and lobbying services to the nations in southern Africa. The organization devised an energy master plan for the city of Cape Town and for several other municipalities.

For builders, Sustainable Energy Africa’s Web site offers an interactive diagram showing the elements of a green building . The elements include passive solar design, skylighting, building materials, energy reduction systems, efficient water systems, indigenous gardens, and ground surfacing. Most of the information is applicable to green buildings throughout the world. However, take note: While the South African diagram orients its solar panels northward to absorb the most possible sunlight, we in the northern hemisphere should orient our solar panels southward.

Although Easter Island is 2,200 miles west of the South American continent, the Chilean territory provides an interesting example of sustainable building. A luxurious 30-room hotel called Posada de Mike Rapu, named for its creator, opened its doors in 2007 . The hotel serves as a base for exploration of the ancient island. Easter Island’s mythical history combines with forward-thinking construction techniques to form Posada de Mike Rapu, the island’s first and only LEED-certified structure.

As Beijing gears up for the 2008 Olympics, the flurry of construction is being governed by a net-zero-emissions goal from now through the end of the games . In addition to constructing green buildings and implementing community sustainability programs, the Chinese government has committed to minimizing the air pollution associated with hosting the games. Beijing has also pledged to offset sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions by cutting pollution in the whole of China and also by trading on the global emissions market.

Even the inhabitants of world’s coldest continent are thinking in terms of sustainability. After being assembled in Belgium, the Princess Elizabeth Station was shipped to Utsteinen, Antarctica in 2007 . Powered entirely by solar panels, the station is Antarctica’s first zero-emissions research facility. Electronic equipment, which generates heat as it functions, is placed at the center of the structure so that the heat radiates outward into the building. About three-quarters of the station’s water is treated and reused.

Closer to home, the State of California is turning to regulation as a means to reduce energy consumption. The California Energy Commission released a report in 2007 in which it recommends strengthening the current requirements for the energy efficiency of new facilities . The requirements are collectively known as Title 24. If the commission’s recommendations are followed, all new residential buildings in California will consume net-zero energy by 2020. Commercial buildings will meet the same standard by 2030. The commission is also pursuing legislation to require improvements in the energy performance of existing structures before resale.

It’s comforting to know that people on every inhabited landmass are taking steps toward building sustainable structures. From solar heating to indigenous gardens, the basic elements of sustainable buildings are more or less the same throughout the world. We in Las Vegas have learned much from the research of our global neighbors.

On the other hand, the world is also learning from us. Desert climates like Southern Nevada are on the leading edge of water conservation and reclamation, and builders in temperate climates will soon be asking us how to conserve water. Just as we have used the world’s body of knowledge to build energy-efficient buildings, the world will use our knowledge to conserve the most basic component of life: water.

As the organizers of the World Sustainable Building Conference pointed out, the constant flow of information among scientists, governments, and developers will allow humanity to build its way out of our pollution and climate crisis. Fortunately, we live in the Information Age; the sharing of information is the key to our long-term survival.

Green Tip of the Month: Plant indigenous gardens

The best way to conserve water in your garden is to include plants that are indigenous to desert climates. For instance, the Beehive Cactus provides a large pink flower in the summer. Its fruit, if you're willing to risk a cactus needle in your thumb, is edible. For groundcover, the Stonecrop is perfectly happy in the Nevada heat, sun and soil. Its pink August flowers turn redder as weather cools in the fall. For an ornamental grass, Bigelow's Nolina stands as tall as a first-grader and blooms a cream-colored or pale yellow flower in spring. A complete list of recommended plants is available from the Southern Nevada Water Authority at http://www.snwa.com/assets/pdf/wsl_plants_common.pdf.

Dale Rowse is the owner and president of Viridian Group. He is responsible for the strategic and long-range planning of Viridian Group, a full-service brokerage firm specializing in high-rise residential and commercial Real Estate. Prior to founding Viridian Group, Dale was licensed at RE/MAX CENTRAL, where he received numerous awards and recognitions for his sales production. Dale received his Real Estate license in 2003 after graduating from the Southern Nevada School of Real Estate. He also attended Real Property Law courses at UNLV, completing the class with a perfect 4.0. Dale can be reached by calling (702) 733-1130 or visit Viridian’s Web site at www.ViridianGroup.com.