Real estate mogul Monte Anderson believes going green is good for Dallas. The mogul is known for his eco-friendly approach to solving commercial real estate problems. And so when he turned an aging Motor Inn into a trendy boutique hotel, he used goats to get rid of unwanted plants on the property.

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“I remodel buildings. I don’t tear them down and if I do have to tear them down I repurpose everything, even the concrete,” said Anderson to Green Source DFW. “But my main objective is to keep everything out of the dump.”

Going green benefits commercial real estate owners by helping them reduce water bills, reduce overhead costs, increase workers’ productivity, and reduce crime. There are more than 140 buildings, LEED-certified, in Dallas; the city is one of the “greenest cities" in the U.S. today.

But how can owners of Dallas’s commercial buildings use eco-friendly practices to cut costs in their commercial buildings?

Retrofit the Building – Some of Dallas’s oldest buildings may need newer energy-efficient HVAC systems to make them eco-friendly and in compliance with Dallas’s green rules. A commercial real estate owner may not need to replace a HVAC system, if it is checked every three months. Creating a strict heating and cooling schedule may save a company money.

Upgrade the lighting – Owners of commercial real estate may save money on the electric bill by if they use LEED lighting. One Dallas company saved $58,000 per year on energy costs when a company brought orange LEED lighting and switched to a white LEED lighting. It may not be a question of replacing fluorescent lighting, as much as making changes in the timing schedule.

Timing the lighting – Is it better to have programmable ballasts to turn the lights off on certain floors? Try a few timing solutions. Lights emits heat; If they dim the lights during daylight hours, commercial building owners can reduce how hard their HVAC system works; they may save money not having to turn on their system regularly.

Tuning - Is it possible for employees to adjust the lighting to their personal tastes, use less light, and reduce the energy bill? In some buildings, the owners reduce the lighting to 12 to 16 percent during the day and manage to avoid a high electric bill.

 

About the author: Laura A. is a Realty Biz News Contributing Writer