In addition to clarifying the LEED 25% guideline, Rob Watson also had some interesting points regarding regulations that required LEED certification.* First, Watson made a great point about governments requiring municipal projects to achieve LEED certification: "As far as municipalities requiring their own buildings to go LEED, that’s an owner decision and no problem. Municipally-funded … Continue Reading
I have been spending a lot of time recently thinking about two posts I made regarding the LEED 25 percent premise and why this will be problematic for green building mandates. Why did I reconsider these posts? Rob Watson told me I was wrong. Watson knows LEED better than you and I. He was one … Continue Reading
As readers may know, I am a die hard Kansas Jayhawk basketball fan. Our main rival is the Missouri Tigers. So if I discuss something that originates from Missouri, you better believe that the Missourians have come up with something extraordinary. U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver has established a plan for an innovative "Green Impact Zone" … Continue Reading
The first step toward implementation of a nationwide cap and trade program has occurred. On Thursday, May 21, 2009, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a comprehensive clean energy bill that includes a strict limit on global warming pollution: The 33 to 25 vote was a major victory for House Democrats, who had softened … Continue Reading
[You may notice a new tab up above: Green Jobs. As part of our continuing experimentation here at Green Building Law Update, I am creating a makeshift green jobs board. See details below. Please take this free opportunity to share your green jobs!] "It’s hard to define what a green job actually is." I hear … Continue Reading
Back in March, I gave a presentation about green building funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA"). I had planned to convert the presentation to a guide of sorts, but more pressing matters arose. I have now discovered what I hope the guide would have looked like if I had a month … Continue Reading
On Wednesday, we discussed the LEED 25 percent rule: the LEED rating system was only intended to apply to the top 25 percent of buildings. It is important to remember this premise when considering what is happening in the green building industry today. Many cities are mandating LEED certification for public and private buildings. For … Continue Reading
I have had another green building epiphany. Actually, a series of epiphanies. But before we get to the epiphany, we have to review a simple premise. I have to thank Will Clark over at Multi-Family Guide for pointing out this premise to me. So here it is: The LEED rating system was created to only … Continue Reading
According to a recent Washington Post article, “Construction firms are so eager for work in the sagging economy that project bids are coming in much lower than expected.” Great news, right? Not necessarily. Lower bids can be a good thing if they are the result of increased efficiency in the construction process. But lower bids … Continue Reading
Regular readers of this blog know I am from Kansas. Overland Park, Kansas to be exact. I love my hometown but I am also concerned for my hometown. Last time I was in Overland Park, my Dad and I were navigating the sprawling suburbs and strip malls that make up the city. I looked around, … Continue Reading
Over the weekend, while writing a response to a Summary Judgment Motion, I was reminded of the most important legal principle in construction law. Under the Spearin Doctrine: "If [a] contractor is bound to build according to plans and specifications prepared by the owner, the contractor will not be responsible for the consequences of defects … Continue Reading
The Washington D.C. government has recently began incorporating Social Media 2.0 into its public outreach. Agencies have Facebook pages, some are on Twitter and officials have even taken to participating in online chats with the public. I was very excited to learn that Councilmember Mary Cheh was conducting one of these online chats last Friday. … Continue Reading
Last week, I gave a presentation on green building law to legal counsel for D.C metropolitan jurisdictions. One of the things that I said, and have repeated to other groups, is that green schools will be a hotbed for initial LEEDigation (see slide 25). Want to see an example of what I am talking about? … Continue Reading