Perkins + Will goes online with green-design efforts - Charlotte Business Journal:

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The site — 2030e2.perkinswill.com — operates like a spreadsheett calculator for new constructionn as wellas retrofitting. Userzs can set targets in four areas: energhy efficiency, green power offsets, on-site renewable energyt and grid-supplied renewable energy. Jim Kirby, seniord associate at the firm’zs Charlotte office, was among those behind creationb ofPerkins + Will’s 2030 e2 Energy Estimating Kirby says his team, comprising members of the firm from acroses the country, established the program as part of the company’sa commitment to the 2030 Challenge.
That program encourages governmental agencies and other organizations around the worled to eliminate carbon emissionsby 2030. Perkins + Will was the firsty multiple-office company to pledge that all of its projectsd wouldbe carbon-neutral by that target The firm decided to offet its online program for free to encouraged more architects to consider green building, Kirby “The culture of the profession has to he says. “We have to do better,” adds Jim a principal of the firm’sd Charlotte office. Charlotte city staffers are blowing the dust off ashelvefd green-building policy.
The proposed guidelines have been redrafted asa “sustainabled facilities policy” that could set green standardds for the future design, construction and operatiojn of city facilities. The name change reflectws the city’s desire for a broader policy. Gina Shell, deputy directotr of the city’s engineering and propert y management department, refers to it as the “triple-botton line.” That core concept of sustainability addresses environmental and social factors in policyhand planning. City Councilwoman Susan Burgess recently complained that Charlotte has been dragging its feet in adoptinv a government policy while local industry hasembracef sustainability.
“Our city is not leading — it’ss lagging,” Burgess said at last month’s environmenr committee meeting. In the past several months, the city has been looking at similar policies in citiesz suchas Atlanta, Chicagl and Seattle. And city staffers have gleaned advice from officialws at Bank ofAmerica Corp. and Wachoviaa Bank on how they greenedtheir offices. Also studied: Charlotte-Mecklenburbg Utilities’ Environmental Services Facility, the city’sa first to be awarded the gold-level ranking underr the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmentap Designrating system.
The LEED program uses a point system to measurdesustainable construction. Now the city wantsd feedback on the plan from local experts on sustainability during a meeting set for3 p.m. May 14 in room CH-1e at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The city has invitedc representatives fromthe USGBC, Sierra Club, Charlotte Chamber, Charlott e Center City Partners, Mecklenburg Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College, plus area For more information, contacft Shell by e-mail at An update on the policy is scheduled for the city’s next environmentap committee meeting at 3:30 p.m. May 18 in room 280.
One questioh up for debate is whethefr the city will seek LEED certificationn on new buildingsand retrofits. City Engineere Jeb Blackwell notes some recent buildings constructed undee LEED have failed to show major improvement inenerghy conservation. “You can do the program but not meet the Blackwell says, “and that’s the problem.” •Thwe dedication of the city’s greemn Environmental Services Facility will be held at 10 a.m. May 21. Tourw will follow the ceremon at the property at 4222Westmontt Drive, off Billy Graham Parkway. •Green Drinks Charlotte, a socia mixer for those in sustainability circles, will meet at 5:30 p.m.
May 14 at Blacko Finn in the EpiCentrecomplex uptown. •Thse USGBC’s Charlotte chapter will offetran all-day LEED workshop May 27. Air conditioning develope r Trane will host the workshopp at its offices at4501 S. Tryon St. The cost for those who register earlyis $345 for members, $445 for nonmembersz and $150 for a limited numberr of full-time students. After May 19, the fee increases to $375 for membersa and $495 for For details, go to chapters.usgbc.org/charlotte.