The Future of Green Commercial Real Estate

green_energy_500We're all familiar with downtown Boise, Idaho's Banner Bank Building, but most of us may not know about it's amazing and innovative design. It is Idaho's only "LEED Platinum" rated building and stood as the 18th building to do so in the nation at the time it was built. Banner Bank was the first multi-tenant, privately owned building to receive the LEED Platinum award. A few of it's unique systems include underfloor air distribution and reclaimed water use.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is an internationally recognized green building program that provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Boise's Banner Bank experiences lower operating costs, reduces waste, conserves energy and water, is healthier for occupants, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions and is eligible for tax rebates and other incentives. Banner Bank's initiative to participate in the voluntary LEED process demonstrated its leadership and environmental responsibility toward taking care of Boise's air, and has led the way for others to follow. Boise, Idaho's Banner Bank is just one of the many ways Boise is working towards making our city a healthier place to live.

On that note, the greenest office building in the world is about to open, and it's location isn't far off in Seattle, Washington. The Bullitt Center is made from completely clean materials, has composting toilets, and can catch enough rainwater to outlive a 100-day drought. Though Seattle doesn't have the most sunny of days, it's 100 percent solar powered. This six-story, 50,000 square foot commercial building uses a lot of different existing technologies and methods to earn its achievement, and is a model for the rest of the world as we move forward towards a more eco-friendly planet.

Idaho has a distinction for being one of the greenest states in the nation, and alternative energy has been a part of Idaho well before it's become mainstream. Idaho has a remarkable amount of geothermal potential, and is home to several companies and university research that focuses on research areas in fuel cells, low-power batteries, electric car technologies, kinetic energy capture, biomass, and of course-alternative fuels.

Boise's Banner Bank and the Bullitt Center are two outstanding examples of green commercial real estate and the positive direction our designers and architects are going to improve the world we live in.

For more information about Boise Idaho real estate, give us a call anytime at (208) 571-7145.

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