Kermit, Meet Mr. Kresge
Or, the Importance of Bein’ “Green”

By Matthew Cottle, Vice President
Mid-Atlantic Region

It’s not easy bein’ green. But everybody’s favorite fuzzy amphibian didn’t know the half of it. With its recent guideline and policy changes, the Kresge Foundation is asking us all to join Kermit the Frog in a “celebration of green.”

Environmental conservation – sustainable building practices, environmental stewardship and sound land-use planning – is now one of the nine core values that guide the foundation’s grant-making decisions. Further, the environment is one of the foundation’s six fields of interest.

While the Kresge Foundation has supported grant programs addressing environmental concerns in the past, it has now elevated this interest into a broad program targeting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, support for renewable energy technologies, and encouraging efforts to help society adapt to climate change. While much of this new environment program remains under development, it has had an immediate impact on programs for facilities construction.

The foundation’s guidelines now state unambiguously that “(w)ith rare exceptions, only projects that address climate change will be competitive for funding, including awards made within our facilities capital Challenge Grant Program.” The foundation’s goal is to support “green” buildings: those that are designed to operate using a minimum of non-renewable resources.
The burden is highest for organizations seeking Challenge Grants to support new construction. Specifically, new construction projects must be designed to meet LEED certification at the platinum level. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council as a means of assessing a building’s “green-ness.”  

LEED considers five aspects of sustainable design — sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor air quality — and sets requirements for each. Buildings are scored against the LEED requirements and assigned a score in all five categories. A sixth category, for innovative design, awards credits for methods or techniques not included in the other five categories, or for exceeding the requirements in a given category. A total of 69 points is available under the LEED rating system. The LEED level for any new building is determined by totaling the credits in each category.

The LEED levels for which a building can qualify are:

1. Certified (26 – 32 points)
2. Silver (33 – 38 points)
3. Gold (39 – 51 points)
4. Platinum (52 – 69 points) – the highest level possible

Considerations in the sustainable sites category include the building's location and orientation. By making smart choices about your building site, you can enhance your chances of reaching the LEED platinum level and qualifying for a Kresge Foundation Challenge Grant. For example, points are awarded for redeveloping a “Brownfield” (a site or facility that needs environmental remediation), or using an in-fill strategy to help limit sprawl. Orient the building to minimize or maximize solar heat gain, depending on the local climate needs, and design the building’s shape to optimize daylight for reduced electric costs. Carefully plan landscaping to use native plants wherever possible, and incorporate landscaping plans into the storm-water management strategy.
In the water efficiency category, LEED advocates conserving water used for both site maintenance and interior plumbing. The use of native plants, for example, eliminates the need for irrigation, while captured rainwater can be used as a supplemental source of water. Inside the building, a variety of products have been introduced to reduce water use, including automatic shutoff valves and sensors, composting and dual-flush toilets, and gray water reclamation systems.

The energy and atmosphere category considers energy conservation and the reduction of harmful gases released by the building itself. Incorporate daylight elements, such as skylights, throughout the design. Building orientation also plays a role in this category. Adjusting a building's orientation by just a few degrees can have a big impact on the size of your heating and cooling system, and your energy bill. Electricity usage can also be reduced by installing occupancy sensors to control lighting, ventilation, air conditioning and heating in enclosed areas that are occupied intermittently, including offices.

The materials and resources category focuses on using materials that are rapidly renewable, recycled, or that create less waste. A rapidly renewable material is one that can be replenished within five years, such as bamboo and other quick-growing grasses. Create a plan for construction waste management with the help of a consultant. Some integrated waste management companies offer services that are designed to meet LEED criteria in this area.

LEED standards for indoor air quality contribute to the overall comfort of individuals working in the building. Harmful pollutants such as cigarette smoke must be controlled and separated from the main air stream. Efficient ventilation systems and the use of materials that do not “off-gas” also contribute to healthier air. Choose materials that emit low levels of potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as carpets, paints, wall coverings and adhesives carrying the Green Seal label, and furnishings with “Greenguard” certification.

Unfortunately for the non-profit with limited resources, LEED-certified buildings can cost more to design and construct than conventional buildings. The Kresge Foundation has recognized this cost by promoting its “Green Building Initiative.” Through this initiative, the foundation awards planning grants to nonprofit organizations to underwrite the integrated design process necessary for construction projects that aim to achieve the highest levels of environmental sustainability. It’s important to note that a grant applicant may be awarded both a Green Building grant and a Challenge Grant for the same project at different stages of development.

Fortunately, recent evidence suggests that green construction is not substantially more expensive. According to the National Resources Defense Council, real-world examples show that you can complete a LEED-certified green building project for an average of only 2 percent more in upfront costs and, in some cases, even below standard market construction costs.

There is no debate, however, about the long-term advantages of green construction. With efficient green features, it is possible to save as much as 40 percent on utility bills. A healthier building also reduces employee absenteeism and turnover while increasing productivity.

Perhaps the most visible example of the Kresge Foundation’s commitment to green construction is its new headquarters building, completed in 2006. This building, which incorporates smart site selection and building orientation, recycled materials, water usage and other sustainable elements, has been awarded a LEED platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. As Louis DeBacker, environment team leader states, “It is important that we practice what we preach.”

With the Challenge Grant as a carrot dangled before organizations planning facilities construction, the Kresge Foundation hopes that we all learn Kermit’s lesson:

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But why wonder, why wonder?
I am green and it'll do fine.