LEED For Existing Buildings: A BASIC ASSESSMENT

Is your building near public transportation? Would you consider putting in a bicycle rack or reserve parking for carpool or fuel efficient vehicles? How about landscaping 25% of your site area excluding the building footprint or shielding light fixtures so that they don’t directly emit light into the night sky?  Would you consider offering tenants the opportunity to segregate their trash into paper products, toner cartridges and batteries?  How about a Green Cleaning Plan using Green Cleaning Products and Materials?  Ever consider a written Green Cleaning Program and Custodial Effectiveness Assessment?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are on your way to becoming LEED® certified.  There are different levels of LEED® Certification reaching as high as Platinum with 68-92 Points, however, starting with Certified with as little as 32-42 Points.  The ideas mentioned above provide from 12 to 27 Points.

How Points are Calculated: GETTING STARTED

In an existing commercial office building, going green means focusing on operational strategies.  The examples listed are concentrated primarily on Sustainable Sites (up to 12 Points) as well as Material and Resources (up to 14 Points).  The balance of the Points will require some capital outlay, however, Florida Power and Light and the Federal Government are definitely on board, offering generous rebates and tax incentives.  You can garner the remainder of your Points with these “improved efficiency” subsidies to assist you with the necessary upgrades to capture points in Water Efficiency (up to 10 Points), Energy and Atmosphere (up to 30 Points) and Indoor Environmental Quality (up to 19 Points).  Owners should focus on the process, not the outcome.  Who knows? On your journey you might even use existing or new technologies in an innovative way, “LEED above and beyond,” as the industry likes to recognize it, which could bestow you the holy grail of LEED®: Innovation and Operation (up to 7 Points), serving to further highlight your forward thinking and brilliance.

The train has left the station with LEED® and there is important work to be done during this transition.  It is imperative that we recognize the overall benefits to the community as well as our own health when we incorporate the LEED® guidelines.  You can always choose a few items from LEED® points above just to get started and before you know it you might have an electric car with a premium parking space.

On Wednesday, March 24, Designer’s Specialty Millwork sponsored two teams (HITT Contracting Inc. and Pirtle Construction Company) in the first annual CASF GC Bowling Challenge at Strikes in Boca. HITT and DSM bowled over the crowds, and walked away with the trophy for “Best Bowling Shirts,” designed by DSM’s very own Creative Director, Osiris S (OsirisS.com).  Way to knock ‘em down!

Hello, and welcome to Designer’s Specialty Millwork (DSM).  My name is G.G. Harrison, and I am the founder and President of DSM.  For over 25 years, I have been building my interior design and millwork expertise serving thousands of high-end commercial clients in Florida.  I hold a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional Certification (LEED®, AP), and have degrees in Business Administration and Accounting.

While I was working as an interior designer, I recognized a need for a millwork company that combined artistry with craftsmanship and customer service.  In 1994, I began DSM to fill this void.  Today, we have over 100 team members who meet the exacting specifications of leading contractors, architects, and interior designers throughout Florida.  Our world-class woodworking and ever-growing list of high-end commercial customers have sealed our reputation as one of the industry’s best.  Examples of our work can be seen across various sectors of the construction industry, including healthcare, public institutions, class “A” office space, hospitality, and luxury high rise condominiums.  Some of our recent multi-million dollar awards include the Met 2 / JW Marriott Marquis Hotel / Hotel Beaux Arts in downtown Miami, Florida and the new Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.