Green Building Initiative
Energy Star
Save More, Use Less, and Earn the ENERGY STAR
Did you know that a building or manufacturing plant can earn the ENERGY STAR label just like your refrigerator? An ENERGY STAR qualified facility meets strict energy performance standards set by EPA and uses less energy, is less expensive to operate, and causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its peers. Energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for nearly half of all energy consumption in the U.S. at a cost of over $200 billion per year, more than any other sector of the economy. Commercial and industrial facilities are also responsible for nearly half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to global warming.
For more than a decade, EPA has worked with businesses and organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through strategic energy management practices. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a building or manufacturing plant must score in the top 25 percent based on EPA's National Energy Performance Rating System. To determine the performance of a facility, EPA compares energy use among other, similar types of facilities on a scale of 1-100; buildings that achieve a score of 75 or higher may be eligible for the ENERGY STAR. The EPA rating system accounts for differences in operating conditions, regional weather data, and other important considerations.
About the Initiative
Greenway Plaza was built between 1968 and 1982. Though not constructed to meet today's “green” standards, the original developers envisioned the vast “green” areas as park like amenities from which its namesake was derived. “Green” has a much different connotation today.
Greenway has a long tradition of innovative and creative approaches to conducting business and prides itself on being a good steward of the environment and a responsible business partner. In keeping with these core philosophies, Greenway has undertaken numerous initiatives to create efficiencies in energy consumption which reduced both project expenses and power plant emissions. Since 1994, Greenway has spent over $10 million in operating and capital funds in pursuit of greater energy efficiencies which led to an annual reduction of electricity consumption of over 22,500 Megawatt-hours and removed approximately 14,700 tons of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) from the environment.
Though these statistics are as impressive as the Greenway Plaza project itself, a new strategic initiative is underway to further distinguish it to its customers, employees, peers, business partners and the community at large. Greenway has chosen a holistic approach to reducing energy use and improving the condition of its internal and external environments through the development and implementation of a Green Building Initiative for efficiency and sustainability. This initiative speaks to Greenway’s philosophy of evaluating and implementing operational and physical improvements in recognition that economic, environmental, technological and community considerations can be mutually supportive, not exclusive. This is achieved by taking an integrated approach to design, construction, maintenance, operations and disposal and by evaluating projects and procedures using the life-cycle cost method versus simple payback or “first cost” consideration. This initiative has helped create innovative workplaces for customers and employees that are healthy, profitable, and environmentally accountable. By approaching upgrades and operational changes in this manner, Greenway Plaza will achieve sustainability in a deliberate, disciplined, well managed manner over the long term and will lead to “greener”, more sustainable and efficient buildings, which will gradually lead to possible LEED - EB (Existing Buildings) certification. Currently, all 10 Greenway Plaza buildings are Registered LEED - EB with the USGBC.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types – commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
