Energy conservation and responsible environmental design for club facilities and operations are an important responsibility for our club world (as it is in all aspects of society today). As we read in the macro perspective, a large majority of Americans as well as many influential businesses back conservation efforts. Clubs, too, are playing an increasing role in environmental activities as evidenced in the article, “Taking the Pulse on Club Environmental Practices.”
Why Should Clubs Explore LEED Certification?
Clubs need to be in step with the society they serve. The trend in society is to espouse a healthy environment—and club members, managers, employees and architects have an environmental responsibility to do their part. Of course there are many ways to conserve energy that have been done by many clubs in order to reduce operating costs. These include better insulated buildings to reduce consumption of natural gas for heating and electricity for cooling, sophisticated energy management systems on heating and air-conditioning equipment, and lighting fixtures and bulbs that provide more light with less electricity. These are just a few examples of how clubs can make good strides in reducing energy consumption and help the environment.
As clubs continue to upgrade their facilities, there are opportunities for improving environmental construction and building operations. And that is to approach facility upgrades like adding dining areas and fitness facilities and kitchen renovations with a goal toward energy conservation and environmental enhancement. This is accomplished in a green building certification process that was established and has been growing during the past 25 years. This initiative, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), sets guidelines and certification standards for various levels of green building achievement, all in the spirit of being environmentally responsible.
There is always a good opportunity to include the concepts of LEED design and technology into existing and new club building and facilities. Interestingly enough, this environmental approach for buildings has a strong marketing appeal to younger members as well as for older members who value doing their part in having a better world. Younger members joining clubs today want their clubs to be proactive in this effort, so it doesn’t hurt to have solar panels, recycling programs and energy conserving lighting systems.
Our experience tells us that only a few private clubs have upgraded older facilities to achieve even the lowest level of the LEED certification for their clubhouses. The reasons are primarily economic as the cost to upgrade an older building’s HVAC, electrical and energy management systems is prohibitively high. And unfortunately, an energy-saving clubhouse infrastructure attracts very few members in comparison to upgrading a fitness facility or adding a trendy bar/lounge area. Yet members see an intrinsic value in saving operating costs and contributing to a healthier environment.
When a club builds a new clubhouse, it is relatively easy to achieve a LEED certification for the new facility. However, new clubhouses aren’t being built and 98 percent of all club improvement projects today are renovations of classic buildings built 50 to 100 years ago. Incorporating the new energy saving systems in these much-treasured clubhouses can be a very expensive proposition. This is especially challenging when most clubs have few excess operating dollars available for facility projects, thus requiring painful member assessments for almost any major improvement program.
However, certain levels of energy conservation for clubhouses can be of proven value to our members.
First, a club can save operating costs by improving its lighting systems. Second, a club can become more attractive to new and existing members because it is environmentally responsible. This results in more dues paying members, which strengthens a club financially.
Third, a club can improve its reputation in its community by being recognized as an environmentally responsible citizen. The public relations value of this can be demonstrated in taxation, zoning and community support.
What is LEED Certification for a Clubhouse?
LEED is a certification process accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council, a national third party organization that measures efficiency in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings with a goal of being environmentally responsible. The LEED certification process assigns points for various aspects of building improvement projects, and earning those points allows buildings to achieve different levels of success in environmental excellence. The various levels of LEED certification for new buildings and existing buildings are certified, silver, gold and platinum.
When your club is in the early planning stages of an improvement project, this is the time to think LEED. It is relatively easy to include an energy conservation goal in a project’s scope of work and budget. A project’s funding plan should also include capital investments for energy conservation; otherwise such energy and environmental goals will likely be missed.
LEED for New Clubhouses
LEED for New Building Construction and Significant Renovation Projects (existing building project exceeding more than half the value of a structure) is for certifying major construction projects. The focus is on the actual materials being used and efficiency of building operating systems. New construction is the category where most LEED certified buildings are seen because it is far more effective to incorporate LEED items in such buildings. There are new clubhouses built with LEED certification, such as the Army Navy Country Club (see page XX), but only about 2 percent of all clubhouse projects are new clubhouses.
LEED for Existing Clubhouses
Since most clubs renovate and add to their existing clubhouses, the LEED for Existing Buildings is most applicable to the club world. LEED for Existing Buildings is a special category that primarily focuses on improving sustainable, ongoing building operations and embraces limited sustainable renovations and additions to existing buildings. Building alterations and additions that stay within the following maximum and minimum size project limits are eligible for Existing Building LEED certification:
· Existing Building Maximum Size Projects: For alterations, that affect no more than 50 percent of the total building floor area or cause relocation of no more than 50 percent of regular building occupants,
· Existing Building Minimum Size Projects: For alterations in projects of construction activity involving at least one entire room; and for building additions inclusive of those projects that increase the total existing building floor area of a clubhouse by at least 5 percent.
The goal of LEED for Existing Buildings is to help owners improve and operate their buildings in a sustainable and efficient manner, today and in the future. The various levels of LEED certification for Existing Buildings require points for achievement. To review the point scoring methodology and learn how to achieve each category, visit ussgbc.org. Categories of certification are:
· Certified…………………………………………………………………… 34-42 Points
· Silver…………………………………………………………………………. 43-50 Points
· Gold…………………………………………………………………………… 51-67 Points
· Platinum………………………………………………………………….. 68-92 Points
In today’s construction industry, most building codes require major energy conserving features that must be incorporated into building systems anyway, so why not consider taking a clubhouse renovation projects a few steps further to achieve a LEED certification level?
Is LEED for Your Club?
Many, if not all, design consultants in architecture and engineering are well versed in the LEED certification process. Your design consultants can help you identify the opportunities available and the additional cost to add such features in your buildings.
It makes sense for every club to strive for more efficient building systems that save money in operations and also contribute to a better world. Why not investigate environmental design, construction and operations for your next building project? Your operating engineer, architect and building engineers can explain how to achieve LEED certification for your specific facilities. And while your club is becoming a better citizen and steward of the environment, it can also use LEED to attract the next generation of members who value environmental stewardship. It’s time for the club industry to look at constructing and operating facilities in a more progressive way.
Club Trends Summer 2016