I can’t think of a more profound trend impacting the built environment than green design and green construction. Environmentally sustainable design and building principles are permeating not only the design and construction industry, but also the public consciousness.

Every day, it seems, there’s a report in the mainstream media of another city or state considering new green building codes or the announcement of another major project being built to LEED standards. Environmentally friendly design techniques and materials have been gaining traction in the industry for years, and there’s every sign that this trend will accelerate.

Green design incorporates features and materials that use less energy, water and other resources, maximize natural sunlight and produce healthier indoor air. Driving the green design trend are higher, more volatile energy costs, a renewed environmental awareness, more public and private support, and more attention to the long-term bottom line. Recently, government agencies have fueled the trend by incorporating green design into building standards.

Nearly 60 cities and counties nationwide have already adopted green design requirements for government-owned buildings, according to media reports. This year, Boston is expected to become the first major US city to require 26 LEED-type standards before permits are issued for all private projects of 50,000 square-feet or more. (The city won’t require projects to be certified through the US Green Building Council, however.)

Benefits
With buildings using an estimated 40 percent of the energy consumed in the United States, including two- thirds of the electricity, making the built environment more energy efficient will yield significant savings and reduce pollution stemming from energy production.

Alberici Corporation’s 110,000 square-foot headquarters in St. Louis, which achieved LEED’s highest-ever ranking, is an estimated 60 percent more energy-efficient than a similar structure built to minimum code. As a result, the construction company said it saved about $78,000 in operational costs in 2005. Granted, this is the platinum standard of green construction, but more modest green design projects also offer significant savings.

Owners of some green workplaces believe a healthier work environment has boosted employee productivity. Outdoor clothing maker Patagonia reportedly attributes its investment in natural light, radiant heat and high-exchange air circulation, among other measures, with improved productivity.

Costs
There is still a widespread perception that green building is more costly than traditional methods, and in many cases there is a premium, but it is smaller than it used to be. And with soaring energy costs, there is a shorter time for return on investment. For companies that expect to own their buildings for a long time, the rewards of lower energy costs are clear. The advantage is smaller for those that expect to sell buildings quickly, but resale value of lower-cost buildings should be better.

Mainstream companies such as Wal-Mart and Ford have invested in green buildings in recent years, citing both the environmental benefits and cost savings. This is a sign that green design is on its way to becoming commonplace. One sector that is lagging, though, is single-family residential construction. This may be because cost pressures on homebuyers are more significant than on commercial owners, and home building techniques are slow to change. There are some efforts underway, however, to make home building greener.

Going green
In the last five years, there’s been an explosion of green design awareness and many professionals have gained some experience in the field. There are now about 30,000 LEED-accredited professionals in the industry. Architectural students reportedly are clamoring for more emphasis on sustainable design principles.

There are many ways to gain green design skills and experience. Look for training opportunities and workshops in your area sponsored by local professional groups. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) offers private LEED workshops, continuing education credits, web-based education, conferences and other educational programs for designers, builders and educators.

The USGBC’s LEED accreditation program is a nice addition to any professional’s list of credits. (Incidentally, having a LEED-accredited designer work on a project adds a point to the project’s LEED rating.) Having LEED-accredited professionals on staff also adds cachet to your firm and can only strengthen your ability to respond to RFPs in the future.

[For more information, Greenerbuildings.com is a good web resource for finding out more about green design and building.]

What do you think? Is your firm making a commitment to green design? Let us know..

Justin Roy is Director of Midwest Operations for SullivanKreiss, an executive recruiting firm focused on architecture, landscape architecture, planning, and engineering. He can be reached at 312-893-5058 or by e-mail.