Chicago Derives Many Benefits from Green Buildings

By Andrzej Zwaniecki

The city probably could have found a better site for its Center for Green Technology. But none more symbolic. The center sits on the site of a former illegal dump.

It is now a hub for 400 environmental programs for residents, business owners and developers. The building received the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council as the first municipal rehabilitation project.

With the center and other projects, Chicago, driven by the vision of Mayor Richard Daley, has become a national leader in promoting green buildings.

Green buildings "tread lightly on the earth," says Chicago environmental commissioner Suzanne Malec-McKenna. Not only are they constructed in part from recycled materials, but they are also water- and energy-efficient and healthier for people to live and work in, she told America.gov.

Buildings certified as "green" use almost one-third less energy than other buildings, according to experts. Reducing energy consumption has allowed the city to cut its electricity bill and, indirectly, act on its main environmental priority: reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Malec-McKenna said the city has applied both "best practices" and new technologies in the green-building promotion.

"We believe in trying new things even if it involves taking some risks," she said.

Chicago was the U.S. city that pioneered rooftop gardens, which save energy, help control rainwater and ease unnatural temperature spikes in compact urban centers. Since 2001, when it installed the first such garden atop the 11-story City Hall, similar gardens have been planted on 100 more public and private buildings.

But a geothermal heat pump at the restored Chicago Marine Safety Station - also a U.S. first - created a controversy. The technology was so new that "people thought we were crazy," Malec-McKenna said. "Now there [are] a lot of building projects in the city that use geothermal energy."

Although some technologies eventually fail, she said, the city makes those that prove feasible available to builders or homeowners or devises incentives for their adoption.

In general, Chicago promotes green buildings through awards, grants, design competitions and fairs. For example, it expedites the building-permit process for approved builders of green buildings, waives a service fee for developers installing green roofs and provides a series of guides for homeowners renovating or rehabilitating their homes. In addition, any public or publicly funded building has to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification standard, set by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The results of the green drive have put Chicago in the top echelon of U.S. green cities. With 28 LEED-certified buildings, the city was third behind Portland, Oregon, and Seattle in November 2007. At that time, 130 additional Chicago buildings were waiting for LEED certification. The city retrofitted municipal buildings, which account for more than 1 million square meters of surface.

In addition, in November 2007 the city entered into a partnership with the Clinton Foundation that has enabled a green overhaul of privately owned housing and two major Chicago landmarks: the Sears Tower and the Merchandise Mart, the country's tallest building and largest commercial building, respectively. (The retrofitting of the Merchandise Mart has been completed. See "Merchandise Mart Sets 'Green' Standard for Existing Buildings." ( http://www.america.gov/st/arts-english/2008/March/20080327160539attocnich0.4097254.html ))

The city continues to face many environmental challenges, such as traffic-clogged streets and highways, outdated sewage infrastructure and beaches infected with bacteria.

Convincing the general public about the benefits and long-term cost advantages of green buildings has proved to be a tough challenge on its own, according to Malec-McKenna. She believes city officials have to do a better job of demonstrating to Chicago residents that, although the initial costs of such buildings may be high, the long-term cost advantages and public benefits outweigh them.

After all, she said, green buildings allow city residents to live healthier lives and be friendlier to the environment.

More information about green buildings and other environmental programs ( http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Environment&entityNameEnumValue=05 ) in Chicago is available on the Web site of the city of Chicago.

Source: U.S. Department of State

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com