Is LEED Dynamic Worth the Trouble?

Popma: “Previous certifications gave points for having various ‘green’ items in place, although they may or may not actually be operating the way they are supposed to operate.”

SAN DIEGO—Achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Dynamic plaque is very feasible, although some buildings will need to undertake quite a bit more work than others , the Irvine Co. ‘s Chris Popma tells GlobeSt.com. The company’s Symphony Tower office building in Downtown San Diego recently became California’s first office building to qualify for a LEED Dynamic plaque as part of its recertification. The plaque monitors a building’s environmental performance in five categories—energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience—and provides a continually updated score. The US Green Building Council also upgraded Symphony Tower’s certification from silver to gold. We spoke exclusively with Popma about LEED Dynamic and whether it’s worth the trouble for most building owners to strive to achieve. GlobeSt.com: What does it take for a building to receive the LEED Dynamic plaque in terms of time, effort and money? Popma: For Symphony Tower to receive the LEED Dynamic plaque, our environmental performance strategies were measured for their effectiveness over time. The rating agency looked into our total energy usage, total potable water usage for the whole building, total waste generated and diverted from the landfill, transportation surveys from customers and more. Because green design, construction and operation have remained at the forefront of all we do at Irvine Co., the property was already demonstrating top environmental performance, so little additional work had to be done. The certification confirmed that our commitment to sustainability has not wavered.

Symphony Tower’s LEED certification was also upgraded from silver to gold.

GlobeSt.com: Is it feasible (or worth it) for most building owners to go for this certification? Popma: It is very feasible, although some buildings will need to undertake quite a bit more work than others, based on what existing green strategies they have in place. Irvine Co. sees a great value in operating at the highest sustainability standards. We want our customers to know that we work hard to provide environmentally healthy and vibrant workplace communities, where customers they can flourish from every perspective. Today, Irvine Co. is California’s largest LEED office portfolio owner, with 64 certified buildings, totaling more than 18 million square feet. GlobeSt.com: What are the best environmentally sound features for office-building owners and developers to focus on today? Popma: There are five main areas that today’s office buildings owners and developers should focus on, the five main areas that the LEED Dynamic plaque monitors: energy conservation, water conservation, waste management and recycling, transportation and “human experience,” which includes air quality and customer satisfaction. GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about the LEED Dynamic plaque? Popma: The LEED Dynamic Plaque certification is an important performance-based certification for green buildings. Previous certifications gave points for having various “green” items in place, although they may or may not actually be operating the way they are supposed to operate. This new program looks less at the measures in place and focuses more on the actual numbers—the actual data of water and power consumption. The plaque’s performance score is continually updated, so you will know how your building is performing at an exact moment. San Diego CRE is in a solid recovery phase with some creative trends leading the way.   Are You In The Know?  Join us  at RealShare SAN DIEGO on May 17 for impactful information from the leaders in San Diego CRE. Learn more .