New LEED rating promotes healthy urban neighborhoods

Realizing they can control the individual impact of their industry on the environment, some area builders and developers have dedicated themselves to a bottom line that’s not just about net profit, but rather economical, ecological and social responsibility. The U.S. Green Building Council has recognized this “triple bottom line” since 1998 with LEED (Leader in Environmental and Energy Design)—an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies to improve energy savings, water efficiency, and indoor air quality, reduce CO2 emissions and foster stewardship of natural resources. Now a new LEED program—LEED Neighborhood Development —is recognizing neighborhoods that integrate these principles of green building, along with the principles of Smart Growth (transit-oriented development that clusters homes and the businesses people need, close to mass transit) and Urbanism (designing towns and neighborhoods to reduce traffic and eliminate sprawl) to “successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment, and quality of life of our communities.” Launched in April 2010, after a successful 2-year pilot of 239 projects, including Coeur d’Alene’s Meadow Ranch, LEED ND is the first national program of its kind. “Of all the LEED rating systems, LEED ND has the most significant impact in making our communities more livable and sustainable,” said current USGBC Idaho Chapter Chair Lindsay Erb. Meadow Ranch received LEED ND certification in January, becoming one of approximately 80 certified projects out of the 239 and only one of two ND neighborhoods in Idaho. “This neighborhood is really efficient, and not just from an energy standpoint,” says Dennis Cunningham, president of Active West Builders, who is building the development which also received the Idaho Smart Growth and Green Building Award in 2009. He said one of the reasons this “smart” neighborhood attained certification so efficiently was the diligent use of the LEED ND checklist in the design-through-construction phases. Cunningham worked closely with Sharon Patterson—past chair of the Idaho USGBC chapter and owner of Eco Edge Green Building Consulting & Education—to meet the criteria, and together they found that careful consideration of the paperwork imparted “clues” to a more efficient and comprehensive design plan. “If the [LEED ND] checklist is used in the design process, it can be a huge benefit in terms of livability of the neighborhood,” said Patterson, who specializes in LEED construction and certification. “Livability” aptly describes Meadow Ranch. It incorporates bike paths and pedestrian-friendly streets that facilitate exercise, community and a healthier mode of transportation, and is close to schools, parks, shopping and mass-transit. Plus it offers a community orchard, garden and compost pile at the heart of the neighborhood. All Meadow Ranch homes are registered for LEED-for-Homes certification, with five homes certified at LEED Platinum (highest level), 2 Gold (next highest) and 13 more pending national review. “[It’s important to] do your due diligence and understand the LEED-Credits you would like to achieve and then understand the cost analysis of implementation,” said Cunningham. “The good thing about this is that you should be able to pass on a tremendous savings to the Homeowners Association which equates to dollars in the future for the residents.” Although currently there are no LEED ND projects registered in Spokane, Jayson Hunnel of Greenstone Homes says the developer will be seeking the prestigious distinction for the Kendall Yards “truly Urban by Nature” project, currently under construction at the site of an old railroad yard on the northwest bank of the Spokane River. The project, which falls right in line with the LEED ND concept, is slated to include 2,600 new residences, all built to Energy Star and Built Green standards, and 1 million square feet of commercial space, a new connection to the Centennial Trail and access to the Spokane River Gorge. There will also be several parks, a grocery store and possibly even a restaurant within the residential section. Presently there are 17 LEED certified buildings in Spokane, all at the Silver level (3rd highest) or higher, the Community Building downtown getting top honors with Platinum certification. The USGBC started with a vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation. Since then, it has certified more than 14,000 projects in the U.S. and 30 countries covering 1.062 billion square feet of development area. Slowly, this “green” building and development is finding its way in the Inland Northwest, making a difference in our communities by reducing the negative impacts of the built environment. “Meadow Ranch is leading the way for the region towards more livable and sustainable communities,” said Patterson. The USGBC LEED ND program is in partnership with the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and is supported by research from the Centers for Disease Control.