America Inc., have also started reaching out to ar- chitects, engineers and builders, offering their own education programs. Zabcik explains that NCI’s programs can shed light on particular aspects of green building rating systems, in addition to where particular products are strong. They also show that the manufacturer is there to help. “Architects and manufacturers are given a change to interact and trade information, allowing us to do a better job providing the type of information to make sure the architect gets the proper design.” Craig Edwards, LEED Green Associate,
business development manager for sustainable construction at Varco Pruden Buildings, explains that it trains its authorized builders to help them sell green buildings while meeting and exceeding energy codes. “Energy codes are changing to re- quire us to adapt a lot more, and we have certainly chosen to embrace that,” he says. When it comes to codes such as ASHRAE
189.1 and the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), Zabcik believes that they are moving towards focusing on life cycle analysis impacts, or looking at a building’s environmental impacts over the course of its life. He says the focus on green building will shift to more measurable metrics like life cycle cost- ing, energy use and life cycle analysis impacts. “It is these selling points that will help convince archi- tects, engineers and building owners to build a highly energy-effi cient green building,” he adds. Edwards holds a one-day “VP Green” educa-
tional training seminar across the country, focusing on selling and marketing techniques, in addition to covering LEED, energy codes and daylighting. “We also teach on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Comcheck tool, educating our builders on how and why they should use it,” Edwards says. “It is very effective in proving that you are meeting or exceed- ing energy codes across the U.S.” VP is also educating its internal staff so that
when contractors are working with their service centers, they will be informed and able to educate and assist builders with the proper choices for building solutions, adds Edwards. Those solu- tions include everything from adding daylighting to specifi c insulation solutions or cool metal roofs, as well as potential third-party solutions with light- ing controls, photovoltaics, water reclamation and rainwater harvesting. With more than 250 LEED projects already
completed and another 250 in the works, Turner re- lies on facts. “We have a lot of experience, and we have a lot of facts,” Deane explains. “We have cost studies and we can prove to clients the benefi ts of green buildings. And we can prove that based on our experience, it doesn’t have to cost more.”
The Forest Public Library is Marion County government's fi rst LEED Gold certifi ed building and only the third Gold certifi ed library in the state of Florida. Designed by Architecture Studio Inc. and built by Ethridge Construction, the metal building structure and roof system was manufactured by A&S Building Systems. (Photo courtesy of A&S Building Systems)
The 11,420-square-foot Missouri Gas Energy building in St. Joseph, Mo., received 62 LEED points for Gold certifi cation. The project, built by A.L. Huber General Contractor, Overland Park, Kan., features a modifi ed canopy framing with an 8,280-watt solar system made up of 27 solar panels. (Photos courtesy of Varco Pruden Buildings)