Posted on October 9, 2009 by Chris Cheatham

How Far Should the GSA Go With Green Building Certification?

If you have been reading Green Building Law Update for any length of time, you have read about the $4.5 billion that was given to the General Services Administration through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The GSA has announced plans to use the $4.5 billion to create high performance, green government buildings. 
 
The GSA currently requires that all new projects achieve LEED Silver certification.  Is it possible that the GSA is going to push for even higher green building certification levels?  We will soon find out according to a column by Bill Gormley in the Washington Business Journal: 

The government is expected soon to issue new directives on green procurement.  Michelle Moore, the new federal environmental executive, is pushing hard for green standards – particularly for third-party certifications to help provide some kind of proof that green actually means something to vendors and government buyers. 

Are we at the stage where the GSA should require LEED Gold, or even LEED Platinum on all new construction?

Government Moves to Define "Green" Contracting

(WBJ) (subscription req.)


GSA - Sustainable Design Program

(GSA)


GSA Building Underperforms

(GBLU)


GSA's Green Stimulus Projects

(GBLU)

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Posted on October 7, 2009 by Chris Cheatham

Four Steps to Green Contracting with the Government

The Washington Business Journal (a fantastic newspaper) recently ran an informative column by Bill Gormley titled "Government Moves to Define ‘Green’ Contracting" (subscription req.). There was so much information that I am going to spend the next two days discussing it.

In the article, Gormley ran through a list of actions that should be taken by green service or product companies wishing to contract with the government. Here are some highlights:

  • "Know the lingo. . . . Know what kinds of requirements and regulations government agencies face, and do your best to help agencies meet them."
  • "Be specific. Many companies struggle with explaining how they're green or how they can offer the government an advantage by buying their green-capable service or product. . . . Make your message clear, concise, and specific so your buying audience can clearly see why your service or product offers more green value than your competitor’s."
  • "Get public acknowledgment. . . . Because it is so difficult for the government buyer to differentiate between products – and the green value they provide – vendors should be prepared to provide some type of third party acknowledgment that they are truly green. . . . If you are able to say you’re providing your green service or product to another government agency, that is worth your company weight in gold."
  • "If you’re trying to sell green services or products to the government, get on the appropriate GSA Schedule that represents what you sell commercially."

The government is the preeminent developer right now, particularly in the design and construction industry. As more agencies start coming out with green building bidding opportunities, it is important that you are strategically prepared to address the needs of the government. Of course, once you get that green building contract, you must also ensure compliance with the government's regulatory requirements.

But you can worry about that another day.   

Related Links:

Government Moves to Define "Green" Contracting (WBJ) (subscription req.)

A Recipe for Green Building Litigation (GBLU)

Photo:  DeltaMike

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