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As global warming and soaring oil prices make national headlines, the demand for "green" building design is growing. Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky architects and engineers have seen a big increase in the call for more energy-efficient building compared to just a few years ago.

In part, the growth has been fueled by the adoption of an industry standard known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

A certification process pioneered by the U.S. Green Building Council, the standard incorporates a slew of energy- and waste-reduction features

In Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, at least 12 buildings have achieved the standard and more than 100 projects across Ohio - some of which are still under construction - are registered for consideration, according to the building council.

"There's definitely been a real pickup in the momentum, especially in the past year," said Cincinnati-based BHDP architect Greg Hutzel, who serves as chair of the Cincinnati Regional Chapter for the Green Building Council.

"I've noticed here at BHDP we don't even have to educate our clients about the LEED process anymore. They're coming to us already hearing about the benefits, which includes things like better indoor air quality and lower operating costs," he said.

LONG-TERM SAVINGS

Another incentive - at least in Cincinnati - has been the May adoption of an ordinance that provides a 100 percent, 15-year property tax abatement for all LEED-certified buildings. The ordinance officially goes into place on Tuesday.

"That has definitely been a key thing because it's such a huge financial incentive for the (property) owners," Hutzel said.

Cost savings associated with green building design are especially important for institutions that are committed to long-term building ownership, according to Chuck Lohre, who through his marketing agency, Lohre & Associates, has begun catering his practice toward green builders and products.

"You see a lot of LEED projects that are government or school-based, primarily because they see a longer-term investment," he said. "They're looking at the 30- to 50 percent savings they see each year in operating costs as the return on their investment, versus those with shorter-term ownership perspective."

Locally, the University of Cincinnati boasts the region's largest LEED-certified project with its recently completed 350,000-square-foot campus recreation center.

Designed by Walnut Hills-based KZF Design, the center incorporates massive skylights and windows that take advantage of natural lighting. Simple concrete floors were used instead of carpet to reduce waste, and a giant underground collection tank stores rain water that is reused for the center's sprinkler system. Additionally, during the center's construction, contractors recycled 75 percent of the materials and debris from the site, said Don Cornett, KZF's vice president and director of education.

"This all used to be a parking lot and power plant," Cornett said while touring the center Friday. "We converted the outside into beautiful green space, and inside you have very simple, durable materials that last long and don't consume a lot of energy. Really, what you have is this great transition into the conservation of natural resources."

SHORT-TERM SPENDING

Though exact figures were not available, those in the industry admit that committing to green design often means adding to a project's cost.

Aside from a registration fee, which locally carries a $2,500 price tag, other fees are applicable depending on the size of the project, Hutzel said.

Additionally, just pulling together documentation required for LEED certification takes extra time, Hutzel said.

Because of the added costs, efforts are under way to develop a separate set of green building criteria for residential construction, said Dan Hendricks, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Home Builders Association.

"Some of the green building criteria that are used in commercial construction are not as easily attainable or affordable for residential," he said. "We have builders and companies that are interested and are building green-build houses, but for some (builders) it's been difficult to incorporate some of the products that are out there without adding a significant amount to the price of the house.

"Anything that you do in the market, you have to consider how affordable it is and what the consumer is willing to pay."

The separate standards, which will have input from the National Association of Home Builders, are expected to be released soon, Hendricks said.

Hutzel said he expects the demand for green building techniques - at least on the commercial end of construction - to continue to climb.

"I don't think this is just a fad," he said. "It's the more responsible and sustainable way to build, and that's what we should be thinking about."

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