CA Leads in Multifamily LEED Projects

SAN FRANCISCO—Nationwide, 25% of the multifamily construction industry is leveraging LEED certification for energy efficiency, water conservation, and healthy spaces for residents and communities. Green multifamily housing is increasingly desired/expected by renters and buyers on the West Coast. In fact, California is leading the country with 175,000 multifamily units using LEED, even in a state with a robust energy and green building codes, i.e., CALGreen.

Home building professionals at last week’s PCBC 2018, heard from Joyce Mihalik, vice president, integrated design services with Forest City Realty Trust, and Renee Loveland, director of sustainability at Gerding Edlen. The session, Reducing Friction for Green Multifamily Buildings, was moderated by Marc Heisterkamp, vice president, strategic relationships at US Green Building Council.

Panelists discussed the demands of rating systems such as LEED, succeeding with local requirements of CALGreen, and reducing conflict and friction when building to sustainability guidelines for multifamily projects. Mihalik and Loveland shared insights on making the business case for green construction and highlighted best practices in managing a green construction project from start to finish. They also suggested design strategies and project delivery approaches that tend to be successful regardless of the project location.

Mihalik said Forest City is in tune with stakeholders and the REIT’s consistency has led to social responsibility and environmental governance resulting in numerous awards. Forest City tries to have LEED and EnergyStar in all projects, as that consistency adds value, she said.

“There is a big push on healthy building materials. And we demonstrate ways tenants will save money and experience healthier living in everyday terms they will understand,” Mihalik said. “California has led the way in environmental standards. And, the Bay Area is very much in tune with environmental issues─they get it─so we don’t have to talk about it much.”

In addition, Loveland said Gerdling Edlen launched an eco-pilot program.

“The average person thinks in terms of what is in it for them with regard to green building,” she said. “We approach financial/tenant retention/partnerships/building new communities with the question, ‘how are we driving value?’ And, we take risks with technology.”

Heisterkamp shared how the newest rating system, LEED version 4.1, has been updated for the multifamily market sector, including improved connections between the rating system and codes. Projects built in California can leverage a new Title 24, Part 6 energy scoring pathway and new LEED paperwork streamlining measures to reduce paperwork and amplify efforts to build green. USGBC is looking to promote more consistency between its programs and CalGreen to make green standardized.

“USGBC pushes us to achieve higher,” Mihalik said. “You must be LEED 4 or higher and all Forest City buildings are. Competitors also have to comply with the higher standard in California building codes so it levels the playing field.”

As an example, Loveland said Gerdling Edlen has a project in Oakland with a thermal storage aspect that is going for LEED 4.