Sustainable Options, LLC Chosen by Atlanta REALTORS® Center to Commence LEED Certification process for High-Profile Office Building in Sandy Springs, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia – April 30, 2009 – Sustainable Options, LLC, an Atlanta based green building consulting firm, has been selected by the Atlanta Board of REALTORS® Educational Foundation to conduct a LEED for Existing Buildings Audit to determine the future course of action in the Atlanta REALTORS® Center’s quest to economically showcase environmental responsibility in its much visited and prominent office and classroom facility.

Green buildings pioneers Greg O’Brien and Tom Boeck, Principals of Sustainable Options, LLC will lead a team of LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP’s) to analyze the current operations of the building and deliver a detailed costs and benefits analysis associated with achieving each of the four levels of LEED EBO&M certification.

According to Greg O’Brien, one of the first real estate brokers in the State of Georgia to be designated as a LEED AP by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC);

 “The essence of sustainability and the green building movement is to be forward thinking and proactive in ways that reflect environmental responsibility.  We are very pleased to be working with the team of professionals at the Atlanta REALTORS® Center to implement policies and procedures that will significantly improve the impact the building has on the environment as well as on the health and well being of the building occupants.”

Sustainable Options, LLC to Perform Green Building Analysis on Atlanta REALTORS® Center

Hal Grayson, President of Grayson Properties, the property management firm for the Atlanta REALTORS® Center and the driving force responsible for delivering services to the two-story, 40,000 square foot multi-purpose facility added:

“The timing for implementing the various green initiatives that will be identified is very good as we are nearing the end of the useful life of the building’s roof and major mechanical systems.  We plan on documenting the entire green building analysis and certification processes and use it as an educational tool for our members and the entire real estate community.”

The American Recovery and Redevelopment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides major funding initiatives for the retrofits of the existing building stock across the United States. By investing in programs that support energy efficiency, improve indoor environmental quality, properly managed water use and the reuse of existing buildings provides tremendous opportunities for real estate brokers, owners, investors and developers. 

According to Brett Hunsaker, President of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, the leadership team is certainly supportive of the green buildings movement.  Hunsaker says,

“The Atlanta Board of REALTORS® and the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, representing many of the leading commercial and residential brokerage companies in Atlanta, are committed to being visible leaders in the move towards more environmentally responsible management of real estate assets.  We expect to see very attractive payback periods as well as setting a good example for our members and the Atlanta community.”

O’Brien added, “The LEED EBOM Audit results in a detailed costs and benefits analysis that educates our clients as to what is expected of them to achieve the desire certification.  Most overall payback periods we see are in the 2 – 4 year range.”

Sustainable Options, LLC to Perform Green Building Analysis on Atlanta REALTORS® Center

Sustainable Options, LLC is an Atlanta based consulting firm specializing in analyzing and implementing cost effective “green” strategies that meet their client’s sustainability objects.  Sustainable Options has numerous office and non-office green building projects underway. Current non-office building projects in which Sustainable Options is engaged include the two hotel (Marriot & Springhill Suites) development project adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, an 875,000 square foot distribution center in Jacksonville, FL, the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, the High Meadows School in Roswell, GA and two Atlanta Public Schools new construction projects. 

For additional information, visit www.sovogt.com

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