By Carly Horton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

To meet the growing demand for building green in Alaska, the U.S. Green Building Council-Alaska chapter this month joined the Cascadia Region Green Building Council as its newest branch.

This means Alaska will have support from one of the nation's most successful USGBC chapters and will be able to maximize its efforts to promote green building and design throughout the state.

According to USGBC Alaska chair Lynn Barrett, merging with Cascadia means the state will acquire a full-time director responsible for education, outreach and promoting sustainability throughout Alaska.

“Our board is all-volunteer, and there's so much administrative work involved,” Barrett said. “Having a full-time staff person will take that out of our hands and allow us to start educating people on the importance of sustainable development.”

Merging with Cascadia will provide more opportunities for contractors, architects and designers looking to go green.

“Because the USGBC is expanding so rapidly, it's seeking to consolidate into bioregions so (the chapters) can be managed more easily,” Barrett said. “Alaska is now part of a bioregion that includes Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. This gives us the opportunity to work globally.”

Barrett said she plans to host six Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) workshops and three guest speakers in 2008.

LEED is the standardized rating system that is currently the most accepted method of quantifying sustainable construction. According to the USGBC, LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building is environmentally responsible, profitable, and a healthy place to work and live. LEED-certified buildings lower operating costs and increase asset value, reduce waste sent to landfills, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve water and energy, according to the organization.

Barrett said there are currently three LEED-certified buildings in Alaska: The Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, the Denali Visitor Center and the Homer City Library. There are nearly 20 more LEED-registered projects currently under construction throughout the state.

While the cost of building green can drive construction costs up - the USBGC says to expect a cost premium of more than 2 percent for each LEED level - many argue that green features can mean big savings over time. Many green projects recoup their costs in as little as four years.

The concept is catching on in Alaska. Barrett said she has seen a huge increase in the number of requests for LEED training over the past six months.

“There's a great interest in obtaining LEED accreditation,” Barrett said. “It makes you more marketable.”

On the Web: www.cascadiagbc.org, chapters.usgbc.org/alaska.

Carly Horton can be reached at carly.horton@alaskajournal.com.