4 minute read
Looking at residential areas, latest researches show environmentally friendly districts are one of the top choices to live and work. So it doesn’t come by surprise that green projects which achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)1 and Energy Star2 status reached an internal rate of return up to 20% or more.
Green cities attract young families,
who are ready to pay more for
the ecological comfort
In 2010 U.S. General Service Administration reported that green federal buildings show decreased energy use of[nbsp]26% and increased occupant satisfaction of[nbsp]27%, compared to commercial office benchmark data. As to industrial and business environment, companies involved with green technologies have better familiarity and loyalty scores. Nowadays, client and market demand, low operation cost and branding are dominant forces in the market for green building activity, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. Their recent analysis shows that the Return on Investment (ROI) for green buildings is higher and is expected to be in 8-11 years, regardless of whether it is a new green building or green retrofit, compared to standard construction. Measuring, monitoring, and automating building’s energy systems maximizes ROI by ensuring equipment is only in use when needed and that all operations are at peak efficiency and effectiveness.
Also path of business centers
Billa AG constructed a new green supermarket in Austria in 2014. With the area of 900 square meters, engineers had a target to decrease the energy consumption to half. Eventually the target was accomplished and energy savings reached 60%, amounted to 63,90 kWh/m²y. What is amazing is that construction costs were €50,000. Energy efficient building adopted number of measures like heat recovery system. Heating cooling water from refrigeration system can be switched to a heat pump to cover peaks loads, for this reason building require no heating system. Moreover, the supermarket is equipped with the latest refrigeration and cooling plant innovation which delivers cutting edge energy efficiency. Finally, most of the lightning system uses[nbsp]LED lights to improve energy savings and minimize environmental impact.
Automobile manufacture got
sustainable benchmark
Toyota’s manufacture is a worldwide benchmark when it comes to sustainable manufacture. Toyota Motors Manufacture Derbyshire plant along with others is a showcase for green technologies. 4.1MW solar array concludes 16,800 panels on 90,000 square meters of land and connected directly to the plant, providing energy for the car production. It is thought to be the largest direct factory-connected solar PV array in the UK and covers about five per cent of the Burnaston plant’s annual electricity consumption. Sustainable plant in France is equipped with The SolarWall® solar air heating system, a photovoltaic membrane on the roof of its logistics building, a system for wastewater recycling, preservation of biodiversity within the site, and environmental education activities for children in nearby communities. Moreover, the plant is known to be zero waste: of the 9.5 kg of waste created in the production of the Yaris, 4 kg is directly recyclable and the remaining 5.5 kg is used as a substitute fuel for industrial processes. In other manufacture sites, what cannot be recycled is being sold for secondary usage. In Toyota’s green vision, company will not settled for[nbsp]achieved goals and continues green improvements, staying as the world leading sustainable manufacture.
Insight box
Green or Sustainable architecture brings variety of benefits starting from environmental benefits and investment returns as well as important statement value – Eco-building is customer oriented.
Notes
1. LEED, or Leadership in Energy [&] Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their project.
2. ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.
Sources
U.S. Green Building Council
U.S. General Services Administration
The European GreenBuilding, projects catalogue 2014, Science and Policy Report by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Toyota Sustainable reports 2010 and 2014
Achieving Carbon-Neutral Car Manufacturing Plants, A Strategic Approach for Toyota Motor Europe, Mélanie Despeisse, 2009
Case Study: Toyota moves sustainable manufacturing up a gear, By Will Nichols, 2013
