Green

Building
Handbook
for Commercial Interiors

A practical guide to help your

business explore and adopt
green building elements.

 Currently,
most buildings in our society are poorly
designed. They waste resources, lack
safety and comfort, and are often made
from materials that have environmental
and social consequences. Construction
and operation of buildings in the U.S.…
• consumes half of all material and
energy flows,

• contributes half the waste filling up

our landfills, and

• accounts for half of the CO2

emissions in the U.S.

We believe that “Green Building” means

“Better Building,” and improving the
design and performance of our buildings
is one of our biggest environmental
opportunities.

 
Our Commitment
As building owners and managers, Related WestPac is committed
to creating comfortable, healthy and resource efficient commercial
buildings and resort environments.
We take action on this commitment by following guidelines
established by the U.S. Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org),
and we certify our buildings to LEED standards to assure we hit
the mark.
We know, however, that designing and building an efficient,
high-performance core and shell of the building is only part of the deal.
How each tenant designs, finishes, and operates their business inside
this shell will determine how well the building performs as a whole.
Every decision, and every action makes a difference, and we are asking
for your help.
This handbook is intended as a practical, no-nonsense guide to
encourage and help your business to explore and adopt green building
elements. Each section defines a concept or element that we would
like you to consider, and provides references to help you follow up and
implement.
We hope you find this handbook useful when designing and building
your commercial space. Please learn more about our initiatives by
visiting our web site below, or contact us directly to share ideas to
improve. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration!!

Related WestPac

www.related.com


 Contents
4.......... What is a Green Building?

5.......... LEED-CI: Greening Commercial Interiors

6.......... Priorities for Commercial Tenants

7.......... Eliminating Construction Waste

8.......... Protecting Indoor Air Quality

9.......... Conserving Water

10........ Conserving Energy:

............... Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning

11........ Conserving Energy: Lighting

12........ Conserving Energy: Equipment and Appliances

13........ Selecting Building Materials

17........ Adopting Green Power

19........ Transportation Opportunities

19........ Recycling in Your Building

20....... Financial Incentives for

............... Greening your Commercial Space


 What is a Green Building?

We’ve adopted the Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design (LEED) standards as our guidelines
to build in an efficient, healthy, and ecologically
responsible manner. We believe “Green Building” means
“Better Building.”
We design our buildings to …
- Optimize our climate through site orientation and design
- Conserve water in plumbing and landscapes
- Use energy efficiently
- Use materials efficiently, and eliminate waste in all forms
- Provide natural daylight and fresh air for comfort
We also encourage and enable pedestrian, bicycle, and
public transit access, and we encourage electronic access to
reduce the need to travel.
We use the LEED standard to guide our building process,
set goals, and check our progress. For example, we set specific
goals to reduce energy use in this building by 30% over
national energy standards. To meet our goals, we increased
insulation in our walls and roofs, specified high performance
windows, lighting, and heating and ventilation systems along
with waste heat recovery systems, and installed Energy Star
appliances and direct digital controls throughout much of the
village. Your heating system is tied to a central plant that uses
super-efficient condensing boilers. We bring in consulting
engineers to “commission” our buildings to verify and ensure
that they are designed, constructed, and calibrated to operate
as we intended.
As part of our integrated design process, we consider
every aspect of our development process to find best
practices, products, and technologies. We evaluate and
incorporate as many environmentally responsible features
as possible into the overall design.


LEED-CI: Greening
Commercial Interiors

We’ve done our part during initial guidelines will help align all our
construction to meet LEED criteria efforts toward a higher performing
for core and shell. Now we need and healthier building.
your help to maintain an exemplary By following LEED-CI standards
level of indoor air quality and in your tenant finish, you have the
resource efficiency inside the ability and option to earn a LEED
building. We ask that you follow the for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI)
same guidelines that we used to designation for your space—and
design and construct the building, leasing your space in a LEED-certified
as outlined in this handbook. building already helps achieve
Reality is that greening your space several LEED credits. LEED-CI
benefits your company’s bottom line. certification guides you toward
It increases productivity by making improved efficiencies, and helps
employees more comfortable and to distinguish your business as an
healthy and results in less long-term environmental leader.
employee turnover. Greening your It would be a great complement
space results in less energy and water to our efforts for our tenants
consumption and lower maintenance to pursue LEED for Commercial
costs, and helps create a positive Interiors certification. LEED-CI is
reputation for your company in the a nationally recognized standard
community. There are also financial for certifying high performance
incentives related to energy-efficiency green interiors that are healthy,
and LEED certification, as described in productive places to work, less
the last section. costly to operate and maintain, and
Projects achieve LEED certification lower impact on environment.
(Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
based upon total points earned.
Points, or credits, are awarded on Resource:
various criteria that fall in five basic
To learn more about LEED
categories – site considerations, water
for Commercial Interiors
efficiency, energy efficiency, materials
guidelines and to register
and resources, and indoor air quality.
your commercial space with
Credit may be earned for exceeding
the U.S. Green Building
minimum thresholds, and for adopting
Council, please visit:
innovative strategies. Following LEED
www.usgbc.org


Priorities for
Commercial Tenants

There are many new and innovative

techniques available that help achieve
energy savings in our buildings
and contribute to a healthy
working environment.
The focus for commercial tenants
should be eliminating waste during
construction, installing water and
energy efficient systems, selecting
low-impact furnishings and finish
materials, and improving indoor air
quality.
The next sections summarize
strategies that contribute to a
successful LEED-CI submittal and
a greener interior space. We also
encourage you to familiarize yourself
with the resources for greening your
space that are given in the sidebars on
the following pages.


Eliminating
Construction Waste

 ver half the trash filling our

O
local landfills is construction Resources:
related. We encourage both you Resource Recovery Team
and your contractor to minimize at Pitkin County Landfill,
the waste from your project by for recycling, wood waste,
setting the goal to recycle 90% composting and electronic waste,
of total construction waste, and call (970) 923-3487 or visit
implementing a Construction Waste www.aspenpitkin.com/depts/31/
Management Plan.
Construction Junction in
An aggressive Construction Waste Carbondale will pick up building
Management plan will help you define materials for beneficial re-use,
your goals and strategies, and will call (970) 963-1016 or visit
help align with your construction www.constructionjunction.com
contractors to achieve. Some
strategies we ask you to consider: Colorado Resource Management
(CRM)
- Negotiate with your building (970) 963-8900 commingles and
product suppliers to take back wood grinds construction waste onsite
palettes, cardboard packaging, for composting
shrink-wrap plastic and styrofoam.
- Work with the property manager to
identify a site for recycling collection. - Designate a business or
Explore the option to “commingle” organization that will accept or
different construction wastes for purchase these reclaimed materials.
recycling or compost to avoid the
space requirements of multiple Your Construction Waste
containers. Management plan should clearly
outline all anticipated construction
- Ask your contractor to arrange materials to be used in the project,
recycling collection with a waste how the materials will be sorted
hauler. Find out where the hauler for recycling and collected,
takes materials for recycling, and where the various types of waste
arrange to get copies of the load materials will be recycled, and
tickets to confirm delivery. how all recycled materials will be
- Ask your contractor to salvage documented by the waste hauler.
any tear-out materials that can be
reclaimed for beneficial re-use.


 Protecting Indoor
Air Quality

Protecting human health and - Factor into the construction schedule

providing comfort in our buildings a flush-out of your space with 100%
is a key consideration in green outside air to remove any remaining
building. We ask that you protect contaminants
the respiratory health and comfort of - For all high-volume copy areas, or
both your construction crew areas where chemical mixing may
and future occupants by occur in your space, separate these
implementing a Construction with deck-to-deck partitions and
Indoor Air Quality Plan. exhaust them separately and directly
Suggested strategies include: to the outside
- Phase the installation of materials - Install CO2 sensors and set the
so that porous materials (like carpets) controls on your return air vent
do not act as sinks or depositories for dampers to adjust the volume of fresh
dust and off-gassing materials outside air to the space as needed.
Ask your owner’s representative
- Lay down temporary walk-off mats
how to tie into the main building’s
to catch dust, mud, and debris
DDC System
from workers’ shoes as they enter
the workspace or building. If your Your Construction Indoor Air
space has outside entries, provide Quality Plan should outline the steps
permanent walk-off mats or grilles you will take to control and eliminate
at each entrance. Plan for regular airborne dust and contaminants,
maintenance and cleaning of and provide fresh air to your
these surfaces commercial space.
- Fully isolate dust producing activities
Resources:
from the rest of the space. Seal off
the return grilles so that dust and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning
pollutants are not trapped inside National Contractors Association
during construction. Where there (SMACNA)
is an open ceiling plenum, turn IAQ Guidelines for Occupied
off the HVAC during construction. Buildings Under Construction,1995
Install temporary air filters (minimum www.smacna.org/bookstore
MERV 8) during construction on any
individual units that may be running Construction IAQ Management
during construction. Vacuum ducts Provides a checklist based on the
after construction is complete and SMACNA guideline above. “Job-site
replace filters with new MERV Strategies for Ensuring a Healthy
13 filters Building,” Environmental Building
News, Vol 11, No. 5, May 2002

Conserving Water

Water has always been a limited

resource in the West. Global
warming and dramatic population
growth exacerbates the problem,
and our communities are hard-
pressed to deliver all the clean Resources:
water that we all want to use. The Utilities Conservation Group,
most direct solution to the problem City of Aspen (970) 544-5477
is to use less water in our buildings
and landscapes. U.S. Department of Energy, FEMP
In your commercial space we ask “How to Buy a Water-Saving
that you specify and install high- Faucet,” www.eere.energy.gov/
efficiency, or ultra high-efficiency femp/pdfs/faucet.pdf
fixtures, fittings, and equipment “How to Buy a Water-Saving
that meet or exceed current code Replacement Toilet,” www.eere.
requirements, including: energy.gov/femp/pdfs/toilet.pdf
Dual Flush Toilets/ Water Closets, Dual Flush Toilets
.8/1.6 gallons/flush Sterling by Kohler
Waterless Urinals www.sterlingplumbing.com
Showerheads, Waterless Urinals Links:
2.5 gallons/minute or less www.waterless.com;
Faucets, 2.5 gallons/minute www.falconwaterfree.com;
www.airdelights.com.
Replacement aerators,
2.5 gallons/minute How do they work? Visit
www.waterless.com/how.php.
Metering faucets,
0.25 gallons/cycle
Include fixtures, fittings, and
equipment modifications in your plans
and specifications, and install aerators
and automatic controls on faucets.
New generation plumbing
products make it easy to use
less water with no performance
compromise—all it takes is a
bit of product knowledge and
commitment.
10
 Conserving Energy:
Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning
and Refrigeration

“Satisfying today’s hunger for adversely affect the earth’s ozone

energy comes with enormous and layer. Consider CO2 as a refrigerant
severe environmental costs: climate for vending machines – CO2 has a
change, air pollution, oil spills, river- lower environmental footprint than
killing dams, and nuclear waste…We other gas refrigerants.
do have other options—a clean - One size does not fit all. Design
energy future could be ours.” your space so that employees can
Alex Steffen, World Changing,
A Users Guide for the 21st Century control both the temperature and
amount of light within their work area.
Following are elements and
For example, consider the options of
strategies to conserve energy through
underfloor air distribution systems,
proactive design of your commercial
and task lighting.
space in HVAC, lighting, and
equipment. Your decisions in design - Monitor your space for thermal
and construction will determine the comfort through occupant surveys,
long term energy performance of your and provide controls for occupants to
commercial space. adjust to fluctuations in temperature
and humidity levels. Even a change
Heating, Ventilation, Air
of 2 degrees in thermostat settings
Conditioning, and Refrigeration
can make an enormous difference in
Think about your building’s HVAC
comfort and efficiencies.
system as a miniature power plant that
continuously burns fossil fuels to heat - Eliminate space heaters - they are
and cool your space. Explore ways to generally the least efficient way to
get the same or better performance, heat your space.
with a fraction of the energy
consumed. Here are some strategies:
Resources:
- Have an energy model prepared to
show the energy use of your space Resource Engineering Group, HVAC
built to code (reference ASHRAE engineering design, efficiency audits
90.1-2004), and work with a savvy (970) 349-1216
mechanical engineer to provide the Holy Cross Energy, offers energy
same quality and performance, with a audit services to business customers
fraction of the energy use and cost. (970) 947-5421
- If you are making any additions
to existing HVAC and Refrigeration
systems, please specify no CFCs. We
strongly encourage you not to use
HCFs or Halons which are known to
11
Conserving Energy:
Lighting

Hiring good lighting designers circulation zones, work areas, and

and specifying efficient fixtures meeting spaces
improves lighting quality, saves - Select a pleasant color temperature
electrical energy, and decreases of lamps – e.g. 4100 degrees Kelvin or
the loads on cooling systems. above with a Color Rendering Index
Eliminating glare and reflections in (CRI) of 80 or more
workspace lighting can eliminate
eye strain and fatigue, increase - For all exterior building signage
productivity, and decrease errors and lighting, conform to national
in visual tasks. Here are some standards (reference IESNA) to
strategies to consider: reduce light pollution by shielding
fixtures so that there is no uplighting
- Set the goal in your lighting design or light trespass
to reduce the lighting power density
by at least 15% below the standard Advances in ballast, lamp,
(reference ASHRAE/IESNA Standard luminaries, and control technology
90.1-2004) make it possible to obtain high
quality lighting with significant
- Develop a lighting design based on reductions in electricity usage.
your space layout that makes optimal
use of natural and artificial lighting
for ambient, task, and accent lighting
needs
- Use light shelves to bounce natural Resources:
light into interior spaces Illuminating Engineering Society
- Select high quality, energy-efficient of North America Guidelines to
fixtures considering aesthetics and minimize the negative effects
the visual comfort of occupants of light pollution on the natural
habitat. Visit www.iesna.org
- Use T-5 fluorescent tubes rather than
T-8 to get maximum efficiency with Local lighting efficiency and
fewer fixtures design experts:
Rising Sun Enterprises
- Consider using lighting controls www.rse.com
such as dimming ballasts and (970) 927-8051
occupancy sensors www.reselight.com
- Use variations in lighting to highlight
surfaces and define or delineate
spaces having different uses such as

12
Conserving Energy:
Appliances and Office Equipment

When purchasing new office

equipment including appliances such
as refrigerators and dishwashers,
ask for models that have earned the
Energy Star™ label to ensure that
you are getting high quality and
highly-efficient appliances.
Energy Star™ appliances are
cost-competitive and save money .

Resource:
www.energystar.gov

13
Selecting
Building Materials:
Paints, Wood Finishes,
Adhesives and Sealants

“The science of examining the Adhesives and Sealants…off-gas

environmental and health impacts quickly and the volatile chemicals
of products is referred to as life- may redeposit in carpet, fabrics, or
cycle assessment. This process unpainted drywall. To reduce and
examines a product from “cradle to eliminate the odors and Volatile
grave,” considering environmental Organic Compounds (VOCs) during
and health issues involved with installation of building materials,
all aspects of resource extraction, please specify only adhesives that
manufacture, use, and disposal.” meet the VOC limits of the South
Alex Wilson, Green Building Products, Coast Air Quality Management
The GreenSpec Guide
District, Rule #1168 (www.aqmd.gov):
We ask that you consider the - Carpet pad installation:
life-cycle of the products you use 150 g/L VOC max
in your commercial space, and
consider materials that are healthy - Wood flooring installation:
for occupants, and have lower 150 g/L VOC max
environmental impacts locally and - Ceramic tile installation:
globally. Here are some ideas. 130 g/L VOC max
Paints and wood finishes: - Drywall and panel installation:
Specify solvent-free latex paints and 200 g/L VOC max
primers that meet the emission and
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) - Cove base installation:
requirements according to Green Seal 50 g/L VOC max
Standard GS-11: - Use low toxicity, water-based
- Non-flat sheen: 150 g/L VOC max siliconized acrylic caulk (painter’s
caulk) for interior moisture and air
- Flat sheen: 50 g/L VOC max sealing, and low-toxicity mastic for
*Try SafeCoat and Sherwin-Williams sealing HVAC ductwork
for full lines of high quality and low - Use low-VOC waterproofing sealants
V.O.C. interior and exterior primers
and topcoats.

14
 Selecting
Building Materials:
Carpets and Woods

Carpet and Carpet Pad Hard Surface Flooring

Indoor air quality complaints have Specify Low VOCs and rapidly
been traced back to chemicals that renewable alternatives when
off-gas from new carpet systems or comparing options.
biological pollutants. However, For example, Natural Linoleum is
low toxicity commercial grade made from all bio-based materials
carpet systems and cleaning including ground cork, limestone,
regimens are now available from pigment, and linseed oil, and does
many manufacturers. not off-gas harmful or irritating
chemicals.
Resource: If you have selected hardwood
flooring, look for ”FSC Certified“.
Specify carpet with the Carpet
Research Institute’s (CRI)
Green Label, Green Label Plus, Resource:
or choose natural fibers such
as wool carpet to eliminate Forest Stewardship Council
odor and VOCs (FSC) is a non-profit that
certifies hardwoods originating
from well-managed forests.
Visit www.FSC.org to learn
more about the certification
process, and specify “FSC
certified” woods for case,
base, and flooring.

15
Selecting
Building Materials:
Plywood, Bamboo and
Locally Sourced Materials

Sheeting and Plywood: Locally-Sourced Materials…have

Specify wheatboard, formaldehyde- less embodied energy, which means
free MDF (Medium Density they require less energy to produce
Fiberboard) or plywood for cabinets, and deliver to your commercial space.
storage systems, and shelving. Consider Beetle Kill Pine for all
Wheatboard is a sustainable interior woods – this abundant local
particleboard made from annually wood resource is beautiful, safe to
renewable wheat straw and use, and may be our most sustainable
formaldehyde-free resin. and inexpensive building material.
Bamboo and other Exotic woods
Bamboo for flooring and trim is
beautiful, durable, and rapidly Resource:
renewable. However, be aware of the For local materials and
”embodied energy“ trade-off – most suppliers, visit
bamboo travels all the way from www.colostate.edu/programs/
China. cowood/

Furniture and fabrics may also be a

source of irritating chemicals.
Low-toxicity and recycled content
options are now available. Also, try
to reuse existing furniture to the
greatest extent possible

16
 Selecting
Building Materials:
Summary

Renewable:
Use renewable and environmentally- Resources:
friendly materials including bamboo, GreenSpec is a leading national
linoleum, and wood from forests Directory that researches and
that practice sustainable forestry lists a full range of available
management. Specify wood with the green building products online at
FSC designation. www.buildinggreen.com
Recycled: Green Seal
From steel to drywall to carpet, many www.greenseal.org
products contain post-consumer and/
or post-industrial recycled materials. Carpet and Rug Institute:
www.carpet-rug.org
Specify and give preference in
bidding to subcontractors that use Recycled Products:
materials with high amounts of www.ciwmd.ca.gov/rcp/
recycled content. Greenguard:
Non-toxic: www.greenguard.org
Protect the health and well-being of For a map and listing of local
building occupants by specifying non- green building resources, contact
tonic, formaldehyde-free, and low or Sustaining Tomorrow Today
zero VOC products. P.O. Box 242,
Low-Embodied Energy: Carbondale, CO 81623
Reduce the embodied energy of (970) 963-1393
materials used in your build-out by
sourcing locally, cutting down on the
energy used in transportation.

17
Adopting Green Power:
Holy Cross Energy

After all the efforts we’ve taken to Holy Cross Energy, our
create a resource efficient building, local electrical utility cooperative,
we still need energy in the forms is working to increase the amount
of electricity and natural gas to of local renewable energy in their
light, heat and cool our commercial power supply mix—currently at
spaces. By making the choice to around 7%.
purchase renewable or Green
Holy Cross offers financial incentives
Power, we decrease greenhouse
for the development of renewable
gas emissions and help to support
energy generation within their service
a shift toward cleaner energy
territory (like micro-hydro plants
production. Here are a couple of
that generate clean electricity from
local options for you to consider:
small streams in Snowmass) and they
provide cash rebates to consumers
for energy efficiency and energy
conservation.
As a customer of Holy Cross, you
have the option to purchase electricity
generated from renewable sources,
like wind, water, and sun.
Please contact Holy Cross and
request renewable green power
when you first establish your
electric services.

Resource:
www.holycross.org

18
 Adopting Green Power:
Canary Tags

The City of Aspen recently There are several things that set
introduced Canary Tags, a Canary offsets apart from other
carbon offset program designed offsets on the market today. First,
to help mitigate emissions from each of the projects in the Canary
businesses, individuals, and special portfolio is local. That means your
event activities. Carbon offsets are money is going directly into real and
investments in renewable energy, visible investments in renewable
energy efficiency and carbon energy, energy efficiency and carbon
sequestration projects that reduce sequestration in the Roaring Fork
greenhouse gases. Valley region.
One Canary Tag is equivalent to Second, Canary Tag projects are
displacing one ton of carbon dioxide 3rd party certified under the Chicago
from the atmosphere and therefore Climate Exchange, Environmental
works to limit the pollution that is Trust, and green-e standards. Finally,
causing global warming. One Tag because the Canary Tag program
costs $20 dollars and is invested in a is not a business venture, 90 cents
portfolio of offset projects that work of every dollar goes directly to the
to offset one ton of carbon dioxide project itself (compared to the 40-60
equivalent. The Canary Tag program cents that makes it to the offset project
is the first carbon offset program in other US carbon offset programs).
created by a municipal or state For more information on how
government in the United States. to calculate your carbon footprint
It was developed with the Governors and offset with Canary Tags, please
Energy Office as a pilot program for contact the City of Aspen.
the state of Colorado.

Resource:
City of Aspen
(970) 920-5071
www.canarytags.com

19
Transportation
Opportunities

One less car makes a big difference

on our busy roads. The Roaring
Fork Transportation Authority
is our community partner that
offers inexpensive and convenient
Snowmass village was designed
to have excellent access to the RFTA
mass transit system, and most of the
pedestrian village is designed to be
accessed only by bus or taxi.
$
transportation for all of us who live Please consider providing RFTA
in the valley. passes for your employees, and
RFTA decreases their emissions and encourage all to take advantage of
improves the fuel efficiency of their the RFTA system.
transportation fleet by using bio-based
diesel fuel, and investing in efficient
hybrid busses. Resource:
Full info at www.RFTA.com.

Recycling in Your Building

Recycling is an essential element of our resort operations. Each

building was specifically designed to encourage the recycling of

corrugated cardboard, news and office papers, and metal and plastic

food and beverage containers. As tenants, you have easy access to

recycling areas located adjacent to the loading area in each building.

We hope the convenience of this arrangement will encourage you to

recycle regularly.

20
$ Financial Incentives
for Greening your
Commercial Space:
Holy Cross Energy

A host of credits, rebates and other

incentives are available to help
offset the cost of green renovations,
tenant finishes and improvements.
• Commercial tenants may apply
for a grant of up to 20% of their
previous 12-month billing – up to a
max of $10,000 for energy efficiency
or conservation measures. This
Holy Cross Energy provides financial
assistance through their We Care grant money can be applied to a
(With Efficiency, Conservation And commercial grade energy audit,
Renewable Energy) program: or to fund energy conservation
imrovements.
• Free commercial energy audits
• Rebates on major appliances:
• Free blankets for hot $25-$75 on new, Energy Star rated
water heaters refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes
• Incentives to install renewable washers, compact fluorescent light
energy: $2/ kWh of installed wind, bulbs, programmable thermostats,
hydroelectric, solar, biomass or and water heaters.
geothermal technology, up to
25kW (must be grid-tied)
Resource:
• Net metering: Holy Cross
www.holycross.com
negotiates “power purchase
agreements” with consumers
who install renewable energy. Net
Metering is a method of crediting
customers for electricity that they
generate on site in excess of their
own electricity consumption.

21
 Financial Incentives
for Greening your
Commercial Space:
Community Office for
Resource Efficiency

The Community Office for

Resource Efficiency (CORE) can
provide funds to further decrease
the price of new appliances or
$$
Appliances: Cash rebate: Appliance
and rebate listed below:
• Refrigerators ($75); Dishwasher
($75); Programmable Thermostats
renewable energy systems. CORE ($25); Reset Thermostat ($150);
is a non profit/funding agency that Clothes washer ($150)
serves the Roaring Fork Valley.
In general, rebates apply to Energy
Solar Electric: Star rated appliances only; verify prior
• SOLAR: Zero percent loans and to purchase
hearty cash rebates: • Lighting retrofit rebates also
• Community Banks of Colorado available (switch to compact
partners with CORE for 0% loans for florescent bulbs)
solar electic installation OR*
• A rebate of $2/W of installed solar,
Resource:
up to $6K *
www.aspencore.org
*Note: Both loans and rebates not
available for the same renewable
energy system
Solar Hot Water Heat: Cash rebate:
• $1000 for a 2-3 panel system
• $1500 for a 4-5 panel system
• $2000 for 6+ panel system
Please note that your renewable
energy systems (PV or solar hot water
installar must be either Coseia or
Nabcep certified)

22
$$ Financial Incentives
for Greening your
Commercial Space:
Federal Programs

Federal incentives range from

appliance-specific to broad tax
incentives.
Appliance/Accoutrement
Specific Incentives
• Exterior Doors: (includes storm
doors) earn a tax credit for10% of the
Broad Tax Incentives
• IRS authorizes MACRS (Modified cost up to $500 (must meet Energy
Accelerated Cost Recovery System) Star standards)
for installation of solar which, to the • Insulation: earns a tax credit for 10%
commercial client, enables greater of product cost.
depreciation deductions - must achieve minimum R-Value for
• Until 12/31/08 installation of your climate.
renewable technology earns a • Windows: (includes storm windows),
commercial tax deduction up to and Skylights, 10% of cost up to $200
$1.80/sqft for Energy Star rated products.
(Any subsidy/credit received via • Furnaces and Boilers: if at least 95%
CORE or Holy Cross is not included efficient are eligible for a $150 tax
in taxable income) credit, (natural gas, oil or propane).
• The Business Energy Tax Credit • Central A/C and Air Source Heat
affords tax credits for renewable Pumps: $300 for some Energy Star
equipment placed in service until rated equipment.
12/31/08. Specifically: a 30% tax
credit on solar installation (with no
maximum) and a 10% credit on wind Resources:
(up to $200/kW). For Colorado incentives visit
www.dsireusa.org
www.energytaxcredit.com/
summary.html for further
information on federal tax credits

23
 Every action makes a difference
Thank you for taking the time to read about these
opportunities and resources!
Your actions to create a green commercial space will help
to conserve resources, protect the quality of the natural world,
and improve the health of our neighborhoods and community.
Please consider sharing your accomplishments with us, your
business partners, your suppliers, and your customers.
We hope this Green Building Handbook helps you connect
with local resources, and helps you discover creative ways to
green your new space.
Finally, please consider pursuing the LEED-CI certification
for your build-out as a way to verify and get recognition for
your efforts.

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Thank you to The Brewery Blocks in Portland, Oregon,
a project of Gerding Edlen Development,
for graciously loaning their excellent
Green Building Handbook for our
use as a template and reference.

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 Primted on 100%
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Post-consumer recycled
content and processed
chlorine free paper

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