Talking green
CQI Celebrates Mercy Ridge Retirement Center’s Silver LEED Certification
August 22nd, 2011CQI Associates and Cushman Wakefield Celebrating Gold LEED Certification
August 20th, 2011
Visit http://CQIAssociates.com today to find out how CQI can assist your business in becoming LEED Certified
CQI LEED Project Mentioned in “The Daily Record”
August 16th, 2011Color Mercy Ridge ‘silver’ (LEED certified, that is)
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Timonium set the stage for green senior living by announcing that it is one of the first established retirement communities in the United States to become LEED Silver certified.
Mercy Ridge partnered with CQI Associates LLC, a Columbia-based energy and environmental management consulting firm, to complete the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Mercy Ridge will host an anniversary celebration at its campus from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 11, at which time it will be presented with the LEED Silver certification from the USGBC.
Energy Purchasing Cooperative Provides Choices to Lower Costs
August 5th, 2011Posted in the BWCC Special Insert of Business Monthly Summer 2011
Today, more than 88% of large businesses in Maryland have switched to a third-party energy supplier to reduce costs. Why is this percentage much lower for small- to medium-sized businesses, at one-third the number of enrollments when compared to large businesses? The answer is simple: lack of purchasing power, leverage, support and expertise.
Large businesses use enough power to negotiate favorable rates. Small- to medium-sized businesses do not consume as much power as these large companies, and are not offered the best rates in the marketplace.
The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC) has solved this problem through the commercial energy cooperative (Co-Op) managed by CQI Associates. The idea is simple. Instead of each business securing a third-party energy supply on its own, the Co-Op uses the leverage of the group to benefit each commercial account.
CQI Associates aggregates the kilowatt-hour (kWh) load of the commercial accounts, which reduces the overall cost. The benefits your business or organization receives when you join the commercial energy co-op are as follows.
• Members receive a fixed rate on electric and natural gas bills — guaranteed not to change during your contract term.
• The Co-Op offers Chamber members the benefit of group buying power, which results in lower rates.
• Deregulation has sparked healthy competition. As the energy market changes in the future, the Co-Op will negotiate on the members’ behalf.
• The Co-Op consultant, CQI Associates, has 16 years of industry experience and professionally manages the co-op program.
• CQI Associates is a client advocate. Members do not have to navigate the energy choice decisions alone.
• The Co-Op offers options to obtain up to 100% clean, renewable, wind-powered electricity.
The Co-Op increases members’ purchasing power in procuring electricity and natural gas at competitive rates for budget stability and savings. Market rates are at record six-year lows, and pricing for 12, 24 and 36 month contracts are at historic lows. The opportunity to lower costs is the best since the first year of de-regulation in 2004.
Learn how your business can benefit from joining the Commercial Energy Purchasing Cooperative by calling the BWCC at 301-725-4000 or 410-792-9714, e-mailing us at bwcc@bwcc.org or by visiting our web site at www.bwcc.org.
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD STRIKE LEED® GOLD AT 2001 K STREET IN WASHINGTON, DC
July 29th, 2011
Commercial Real Estate Conglomerate is LEED-ing The District
in Green Operations and Management
WASHINGTON, DC (July 27, 2011)– Spitzer Enterprises along with managing agent, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., a global commercial real estate brokerage and management firm, aligned with CQI Associates, LLC, a Columbia, Maryland-based energy and environmental management consulting firm, to earn LEED Gold, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for 2001 K Street, NW in Washington, DC. The management team and tenants celebrated with a special certification presentation by the USGBC on Thursday, July 21.
“Cushman & Wakefield has been a long-time advocate for high-performing, green buildings, and has once again demonstrated its commitment to transforming its building portfolio,” said Jeff Kuziemko, manager of LEED Operations, USGBC, who presented the LEED plaque. “Greening our existing buildings helps save money and energy, creates healthier places to live, work and learn – all while addressing our single greatest opportunity to help solve the climate change equation.”
Achieving LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
Obtaining a LEED certification is no small feat. In the DC area, the nation’s top green building market, many are striving for this achievement. There are roughly 200 LEED certified projects in DC alone. Accounting for 39% of the certified square footage of LEED projects across the world, existing buildings are outpacing the number of LEED-certified new construction projects on a square foot basis, signaling a market transformation. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance identifies and rewards current best practices and provides an outline for buildings to use less energy, water and natural resources; improve the indoor environments; and uncover operating inefficiencies.
2001 K Street, NW is a 356,820-square-foot, 11-story office building located on the northwest corner of 20th and K Streets – just blocks from the White House and George Washington University. First opened in 2000, the building is in exceptional condition and includes a retail branch of Eagle Bank on the first floor; with floors two through eleven occupied by other world-class and globally renowned businesses such as the law offices of Clifford Chance LLP; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; McGuireWoods, LLP; and Cushman & Wakefield’s DC offices.
“We were delighted to partner with Cushman & Wakefield on this LEED Gold certification project and help to further advance its global leadership and commitment to green design and operations in commercial real estate. Based on a study of ten LEED certified projects we have completed, we learned that the average building costs are now 18% lower than they originally were and the initial investments are paying back in two and a half years. The buildings are much better for the tenants, people are healthier and the sick leave rate has dropped 33%,” said CQI Associates Principal, Richard Anderson. “LEED certification of an existing building requires owner, management, staff and tenant commitment to the changes to meet sustainable and lasting green building criteria. A limited number of existing buildings have sought this certification and those who achieve it fall into a very unique group.”
The facility staff at 2001 K Street began embracing green operations long before the actual LEED certification process began. In 2008, the management team installed motion sensors for the garage lighting and later introduced a recycling program where tenants recycle mixed paper, plastics, bottles and cans.
“The tenants have really embraced working in a green environment. Interior modifications have been completed to meet LEED requirements, whether the tenant pursues certification or not,” said Timeeca Mitchell, property manager at Cushman & Wakefield. “We are thrilled with the response to the recycling program and have 100% participation from tenants on all floors. Everyone has really come together to be better global citizens and improve the efficiency of our working environment.”
Reducing Costs and Consumption
CQI Associates completed an initial energy assessment of the building in the summer of 2009, then provided a list of recommendations for improving energy efficiency and working toward the LEED Gold certification. CQI Associates worked closely with Cushman & Wakefield to implement the recommendations and complete the certification process. The initial investment in the project’s green and sustainable technologies, strategies, and design resulted in an estimated savings of more than $51,000 in the first year. With an ENERGY STAR rating of 79, 2001 K Street NW is 58 percent more energy efficient and annually saves $1.03 per square foot in energy costs when compared to the average U.S. office building.
Senior Chief Engineer Don Bauman commented, “Every month when we receive the energy bill, we are excited to see the payback on our investment continue. At the current rate, we expect to reach a full payback in less than two years. It is very impressive, as with most significant projects in other areas of business, it may be hard to measure the return on investment. Our overall energy savings since 2009 is down about 25%, which equates to thousands of dollars in savings every month for each of our tenants.”
Working toward greater water conservation, dual flush toilets were installed in all of the women’s restrooms and .5 gpf (low flow) urinals in the men’s restrooms, as well as low flow aerators on the restroom faucets, thus reducing the overall water usage by 30,000 gallons per month.
Another important component to achieving greater energy efficiency was the HVAC system. As a part of the project implementation, variable frequency drives (VFDs) were installed on the Air Handling Units, cooling tower fans, and most recently on the condenser pump. Beyond improvements to the HVAC system, occupancy sensors were added in the restrooms and office spaces. The purpose is as simple as the name: to save electricity when restrooms and offices are not in use. The building lighting also utilizes high efficiency low mercury T-8 fluorescent bulbs.
In addition to the physical upgrades, the building management team has taken great care to ensure that outside contractors performing facility alterations correctly follow green purchasing, waste management and indoor air quality LEED requirements in the execution of new projects. The management team checks the building equipment two or three times daily and promptly responds to occupant concerns using a detailed work order system.
“At Cushman & Wakefield, we are responsible to build, design and develop office buildings that are more than just pretty buildings. We need to build buildings that are good for the environment, that don’t harm us and that are energy efficient,” stated William Magner, executive managing director at Cushman & Wakefield.
“In 2009, Cushman & Wakefield was the first company to sign a memorandum of understanding with the EPA that called out the benchmarking of green practices that we have implemented. That same year, Cushman & Wakefield was the only real estate firm to successfully complete the USGBC’s pilot program where we brought on 18 properties that were LEED certified across the US. Today we have over 100 LEED accredited individuals on staff and have more than 44 million square feet of property that is LEED certified,” added Deborah Santano, senior portfolio manager at Cushman & Wakefield.
About Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.
Cushman & Wakefield operates nearly 100 owned and alliance offices in the United States with access to more than 15,000 employees globally. With a history of commercial real estate leadership that spans 90 years, Cushman & Wakefield’s brokerage and services professionals are the most trusted in the industry, typically involved in the largest, most complex assignments from New York to San Diego and in major business centers everywhere in between.
About CQI Associates, LLC
CQI Associates, LLC is a leader in energy and environmental consulting. The firm offers services that allow clients to increase profitability by minimizing operating costs. From small businesses to national accounts such as Northrop Grumman, Fuji, and AutoNation, CQI Associates provides custom-tailored services to suit each company’s unique needs. To learn more about CQI Associates, please visit http://www.cqiassociates.com or call (410) 740-0667.
About U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 79 local affiliates, nearly 16,000 member organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. GDP from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org, on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising more than 8.3 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries. In addition, more than 12,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 58,000 more homes registered.
By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
MERCY RIDGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BECOMES FIRST LEED® SILVER CERTIFIED RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN US.
July 5th, 2011MERCY RIDGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
AND
BECOMES THE FIRST LEED® SILVER CERTIFIED EXISTING RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES
WHAT:
Mercy Ridge Retirement Community will celebrate its 10-year anniversary and will set the stage for green senior living announcing that it is one of the first established retirement communities in the United States to become LEED® Silver certified. Mercy Ridge, located in Timonium, Maryland, partnered with CQI Associates, LLC, a Columbia, Maryland-based energy and environmental management-consulting firm to complete the LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance™ certification. As a result, Mercy Ridge earned a LEED Silver from the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC).
On Monday, July 11, 2011 Mercy Ridge will be hosting an anniversary celebration on campus from 3-5PM and will be presented with the LEED Silver certification from the USGBC. Festivities will also include a champagne toast and music provided by the Bagpipers.
Located in one of Baltimore’s premier neighborhoods, Mercy Ridge combines the charm of the country with the convenience of an urban lifestyle. The community features a 32-acre campus with gorgeous private apartment residences where residents enjoy a wealth of first-class amenities and personalized services. This unparalleled retirement lifestyle is a joint venture of Mercy Health Services and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.
WHERE:
Mercy Ridge Retirement Community
2525 Pot Spring Road in Timonium, Maryland
WHEN:
Monday, July 11, 2011
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
WHO:
Speakers at the celebration will include, USGBC, Maryland Chapter; Sr. Helen Amos, Executive Chair of Mercy Health Systems; Thomas Mullen, President and CEO Mercy Health Systems; Monsignor Richard Woy, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Baltimore; Charles Foelber, Resident, past member Board of Directors, Mercy Ridge and George P. Oxx, Executive Director, Mercy Ridge
To RSVP and arrange interviews with speakers, please contact
Marnie Goldman at (410) 935-0442 or e-mail marnie@soarwithfirefly.com
Earth Day, 2011: What is one small change in your routine that can help the environment?
April 22nd, 2011
In honor of Earth Day, here are some great tips that are easy to implement. At least pick one – you’ve gotta start somewhere!
- In your home or office, position your desk and seats to optimize for natural light. Not only will it save you from using electricty for lighting and heat, but many scientists believe that natural light offers many positive health benefits as well.
- Reduce your standby power usage. Many electronics, including TVs, computers, office equipment, video game consoles and home theater systems continue to use electricity when they appear off in standby mode. Utilizing a surge protector with an on/off switch can help you control standby power usage from multiple devices.
- Optimize your PCs power settings. By setting up a power profile, you’ll teach your PC how to conserve its own electricity. I tell my computer to turn off the displays after 2 minutes of idle activity and to sleep after 5 minutes.
- Recycle your old equipment. Computers and common office equipment oftentimes contains very hazardous chemicals, including mercury, lead, and PCBs and can significantly damage the earth’s ecosystem. Be sure to recycle or dispose of your PCs, printers, monitors, batteries, and other equipment safely.
- Offices use a lot of paper, so be mindful of your printing habits. Buy paper made with 100 percent post-consumer waste, print only when needed, and of course, print on both sides when possible.
- Make sure you refill ink cartridges rather than buying new ones, or at the least, dispose of your printer cartridges at local stores that offer cartridge recyling services.
- Don’t hesitate to invest in upgrading parts of your home in the name of energy efficiency. If you work at home like we do, your home is your workplace as well, and you may spend twice as much time there as a result.
- Reduce the usage of air conditioning by making an organic roof garden. Water the plants every day, smell the fragrance of flowers, and watch small creatures flying around!
- When your laptop battery is full, just unplug the power source.
- Save paper by printing double-sided. Refill ink cartridges instead of buying new ones. Remove the hard drive from old computers then recycle it.
- Spend some of the time you would usually be commuting growing fresh herbs / veggies / fruit in your garden…and compost!”
- Use a hybrid electric source and a laptop with an earth friendly battery!
And here is a very interesting fact:
Did you know that if the 40% of U.S. jobs that could be done from home actually were, those 50 million teleworkers could save 587 million barrels of oil, and reduce CO² by 101 million metric tons?
Hummmmm……. Happy Earth Day!
CQI Associates
201 NORTH CHARLES STREET BECOMES ONE OF THE FIRST LEED® GOLD FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS SERVED BY BALTIMORE’S DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM
April 13th, 2011
Stratford Realty Management Company, a Baltimore-based property management and leasing company, aligned with CQI Associates, LLC, a Columbia, Maryland-based energy and environmental management consulting firm, to complete the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® for Existing Buildings (EB) Certification of 201 N. Charles Street in Baltimore, Maryland. This accomplishment makes 201 N. Charles Street one of the first buildings to receive the LEED® Gold EB Certification in the downtown Baltimore business district.
Managed by Stratford Realty Management Company, 201 N. Charles Street is a 326,768-square-foot, 30-story, Class-A office building located blocks from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Tenants include Bank of America, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Johns Hopkins University. The building is in exceptional condition and has been expertly maintained, giving the appearance of a building far younger than one built in 1967. 201 N. Charles Street is a BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association International) award winning building.
Achieving LEED® Gold EB Certification
CQI Associates completed an initial energy assessment of the building in early 2009, then provided Stratford Realty Management Company with a list of recommendations for improving energy efficiency and working toward the LEED® Gold EB Certification. Both companies worked closely together to implement the recommendations and complete the certification process.
The initial investment in the project’s green and sustainable technologies, strategies, and design resulted in an estimated savings of more than $130,000 in the first year. With an ENERGY STAR performance rating of 80, 201 N. Charles Street is 60 percent more energy efficient and annually saves $1.43 per square foot in energy costs when compared to the average U.S. office building.
Reducing Costs and Consumption
A significant program highlight recommended by CQI Associates was the addition of variable frequency drives (VFDs) on the major air handling units in the building. Control was also added to the building automation system, thus allowing control of the VFDs, as well as the ability to control the dampers for each floor. This in turn enables the building automation system to efficiently manage the air flow to different floors, which is particularly useful when the floors are unoccupied. The management team has already seen a reduction in energy costs and consumption due to the implementation of the VFDs.
Another project highlight helping to garner the LEED® Gold EB Certification was the installation of dual flush toilets in the ladies rooms on every floor in the building. A 22% reduction in water use for all fixtures was found when using a performance calculation according to the LEED® templates.
“CQI Associates was thrilled to partner with Stratford Realty Management Company to complete the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Gold EB Certification for 201 N. Charles Street,” said Principal Richard Anderson. “Our passion is for the environment and helping businesses achieve a higher level of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. With origins in energy management, CQI Associates has the experience and expertise to lead the most unique and challenging projects toward successful implementation and LEED® Certification.”
“CQI Associates Energy Currents” April 2011
April 12th, 2011“Energy Currents” is an attempt, in a short and concise way, to provide relevant information on current energy and environmental issues.
Market Rates and Trends: The earthquake and tsunami in Japan may have an impact on world energy prices including natural gas over the next six months. Fossil fuels will be needed to replace the nuclear energy generation losses. The additional demand may have an impact over the next year and prices are expected to increase. We are closely monitoring the situation.
We have all noticed the price of filling our cars or trucks has increased significantly. This is due to the issues in the Middle East. And while oil prices have increased significantly, oil pricing has yet to have a direct effect on the price of electricity. Natural gas pricing is the factor that most effects the price of electricity.
The current price for natural gas is at record ten-year lows. In 2002, the price was $0.78 per therm. The price in March 2011 is $0.638 per therm. The projected price increase for electricity for the next 12-months is 4.6%. The data at this time does not indicate major increases in electricity rates based on the issues in the Middle East.
Energy Tip of the Month: The following are ideas on how to reduce gasoline & diesel fuel costs and consumption for your car or truck.
-Join buyers clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club which offer lower prices.
-Enroll in shopping discount card programs like the plan offered by Giant Food & Shell Gasoline. For every $100 spent the shopper receives at least $.10 cents off per gallon. Near the end of the month the discounts can increase to $.30 cents off per gallon.
-Keep your speed steady without having to accelerate. While in heavy traffic this is the most efficient way to save gas and can easily get you 10% – 20% better gas mileage.
-Using cruise control when appropriate improves efficiency.
-Shift into neutral when the car is standing still for long periods of time.
-To reduce the ‘mass’ of your car – empty out the trunk and remove heavy items.
-Inflate your tires to the specified levels. Steel-belted radial tires increase gas mileage up to 10%.
- Remove ski, bicycle or luggage-racks when not needed. Believe it or not, this will save quite a bit of gasoline.
-Choosing the correct grade of oil for your car is important as the wrong grade of oil may increase the friction in your engine. -Replace the air filter at recommended cycles.
-Do not fill up unless you are on empty.
-The first gas station you encounter after a long, thirsty stretch is almost never the cheapest. Drive a little further to find a cheaper station.
-Don’t warm your car up by letting it idle. The engine warms up faster when driving than it does when idling, and idling wastes about a quart of gas every 15 minutes.
-Carpool!
2001 K STREET NW IN WASHINGTON, DC ACHIEVES LEED® GOLD FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS CERTIFICATION
April 8th, 2011
2001 K Street
Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., a global commercial real estate brokerage and management firm, aligned with CQI Associates, LLC, a Columbia, Maryland-based energy and environmental management consulting firm, to complete the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Gold for Existing Buildings (EB) Certification of 2001 K Street, NW in Washington, DC.
Managed by Cushman & Wakefield, 2001 K Street, NW is a 356,820-square-foot, 12-story office building located on the northwest corner of 20th and K Streets – a few blocks from the White House and George Washington University. The building is in exceptional condition and includes a natural stone facade as part of its striking architectural design. A retail branch of Eagle Bank is located on the first floor, with floors two through eleven occupied by other world-class and globally-renowned businesses like the law offices of Clifford Chance LLP and the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. A lower level includes two mailrooms, a fitness center, and storage areas. The facility staff began embracing green operations long before the actual LEED® certification process began. In 2008, the management team installed motion sensors for the garage lighting and later introduced a recycling program where tenants recycle mixed paper, plastics, bottles and cans.
Achieving LEED® Gold EB Certification
CQI Associates completed an initial energy assessment of the building in the summer of 2009, then provided a list of recommendations for improving energy efficiency and working toward the LEED® Gold EB Certification. CQI Associates worked closely with Cushman & Wakefield to implement the recommendations and complete the certification process.
The initial investment in the project’s green and sustainable technologies, strategies, and design resulted in an estimated savings of more than $51,000 in the first year. With an ENERGY STAR rating of 79, 2001 K Street NW is 58 percent more energy efficient and annually saves $1.03 per square foot in energy costs when compared to the average U.S. office building.
According to Property Manager Timeeca Mitchell, “The tenants have really embraced working in a green environment. Most interior modifications are completed to meet LEED® standards, whether the tenant pursues certification or not. We are also thrilled with the response to the recycling program and have 100% participation from tenants on all floors. Everyone has really come together to be better global citizens and improve the efficiency of our working environment.”
Chief Engineer Don Bauman shared, “Every month when we receive the energy bill, we are excited to see the payback on our investment continue. At the current rate, we expect to reach a full payback in less than two years. It is very impressive, as with most significant projects in other areas of business, it may be hard to measure the return on investment. We are able to track our progress every month and it is truly amazing.”
Reducing Costs and Consumption
Working toward greater water conservation, dual flush toilets were installed in all of the women’s restrooms and .5 gpf (low flow) urinals in the men’s restrooms, as well as low flow aerators on the restroom faucets, thus reducing the overall water usage by over 30%.
Another important component to achieving greater energy efficiency was the HVAC system. As a part of the project implementation, variable frequency drives (VFDs) were installed on the Air Handling Units, cooling tower fans, and most recently on the condenser pump. Beyond improvements to the HVAC system, occupancy sensors were added in the restrooms and office spaces. The purpose is as simple as the name: to save electricity when restrooms and offices are not in use. The building lighting also utilizes high efficiency low mercury T-8 fluorescent bulbs.
In addition to the physical upgrades, the building management team has taken great care to ensure that outside contractors performing facility alterations correctly follow green purchasing, waste management, and indoor air quality LEED® requirements in the execution of new projects. The management staff checks the building equipment two or three times a day and promptly responds to occupant concerns using a detailed work order system.
“We were delighted to partner with Cushman & Wakefield on this LEED® Gold EB Certification project and help to further advance its global leadership and commitment to green design and operations in commercial real estate,” said CQI Associates Principal, Richard Anderson.