Research key for green building projects (Baltimore)

If you're going to build green to cut energy costs, Mark DeGasparre says you better do your homework first.

DeGasparre, vice president of Century Engineering Inc., said preconstruction planning is critical. Century Engineering’s headquarters in Hunt Valley was designed to limit energy consumption. It was the first project in Baltimore to receive a gold-level LEED certification.

Following an incorrect energy model before building even starts can lead to huge issues, DeGasparre said.

"An energy model is only as good as the software you use, the person who's doing the modeling, and the information that you put into it," DeGasparre said. "If someone makes a mistake or you make an assumption, then there goes your efficiency. There's no guarantee that what your model shows will match what will happen once you get in the building. It’s not an exact science."

The past decade has seen a growing number of companies and organizations invest in green construction. In this fairly new industry, uncertainty remains for businesses thinking of starting a green project. Industry experts said companies contemplating building green must conduct thorough research to avoid potential pitfalls.

Green construction projects have a better chance of being financed and can better maximize energy cost savings if they're planned well, experts said. As with many investments, a positive return is not guaranteed. One of the biggest issues with green construction is the initial cost.

Construction costs generally exceed those of a traditional building. In the early days of green certification, some reports had green building expenditures as much as 25 percent more than conventional construction.

Stan Sersen, of the Green Building Institute, said many people are hesitant to build green because of those extra costs. The Green Building Institute is a nonprofit that educates people on how to live green.

"Certification costs can be pretty substantial," Sersen said. "The banks don't want to loan you money and don't want to help you out. As a result, people are going, 'Well if it’s going to cost me more, I’ll just build a regular building and do it for less.'"

Read the full story in the Baltimore Business Journal.