Advances in Green Industrial Building

Although green building techniques and materials have become widespread in some areas, such as home development and business equipment, there is still one area that has been hesitant to follow this trend.  The first industrial building to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was the Steelcase Wood Furniture Manufacturing Plant, located in Caledonia, Michigan.  That happened in 2001, over ten years ago.  Since then, however, only 198 other industrial buildings have been built using this technology.

The amount of green building projects has increased dramatically over the years, but only a few of these projects are related to industrial building.  There are a number of factors that could be contributing to these findings, including the greater energy demands of these types of facilities, as well as the current state of economics in speculative development.  Other possible contributions could be that there are no guidelines for obtaining LEED certification specific to the area of industrial building.  Builders would be more encouraged to incorporate environmentally friendly tactics if they had a set of rules to follow.  One Houston Heights builder commented that the lack of LEED guidelines has been detrimental to the movement toward sustainable building.

The industrial building field initially felt as though LEED projects weren’t relevant to their industry.  Factories and other industrial facilities tend to be viewed as items that drain energy, as opposed to potential sources of energy.  Recent advances in green industrial building strategies has people questioning this old belief, and rethinking the way they view commercial structures.  Although factories do tend to eat a lot of energy, that energy can be fueled into sustainable development.

By incorporating the latest advances in green building supplies it is possible to change the face of industrial building.  LEED looks for designs that increase energy production in an environmentally manner.  Industrial buildings that can incorporate efficient water systems, reduce their CO2 emissions considerably, and save energy will be candidates for LEED certification, and they will be more financially productive for the owners.  These details also lead to an improved ambiance within the structure, allowing for a better work environment and more productive employees.

Green industrial building has been drawing attention from many Houston Heights builders because of the benefits it offers to all involved parties.  Those who have experience with LEED certification and advances in green industrial building report an impressive return on investment, and many claim to have exceeded their initial goals.  Projects that are not seeking LEED approval can also take steps to make their facilities more sustainable by incorporating efficient lighting systems, reflecting roof panels, and improved air and ventilation systems.  Including these simple adjustments will lead to saved energy, and saved money.