Exterior features of the Life Science & Technology building reduce heat gain.

Under construction in the Miami health district on the city's northeast side, the University of Miami's new Life Science & Technology Park represents a leap in sustainable design and construction in Florida when it comes to both energy and water: An air-management system known as total energy recovery will cut energy use — and bills — by about 25%. Chilled beams, which use water instead of air to cool a coil in the beam, eliminate energy-intense, noisy fans.

To slash water consumption, the complex will capture rainfall, along with all condensate from the air-conditioning units, to irrigate the grounds and flush toilets.

The techniques are all part of the "next generation" of green building. The field has grown well beyond energy-saving appliances and water-saving fixtures, non-toxic paints and native landscaping to include progressive new practices that use a fraction of the power and hardly any potable water. Next-gen green lags in Florida in the wake of the housing bust that brought so much construction to a halt. Still, there's promising news on two fronts:

Energy-efficient chillers cool water at the Life Science & Technology Park under construction in Miami.

Chilled beams in the ceiling (rectangular devices set in the ceiling grid between the light fixtures) use water to cool a coil in the beam, replacing high-energy exhaust fans.

In 2001, the University of Florida became the first campus in the state, and one of the first in the nation, to require all new major buildings to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — better-known as LEED — certification. During the recession, the higher-ed sector was one of the few that kept building. In 2009, additions to UF's new football stadium made it the first building in Florida to earn a LEED platinum rating, the highest possible. In addition to energy-saving and water-saving features, contractor PPI Construction Management recycled construction debris and sourced raw materials within 500 miles to benefit local economies.

Ultimately, the greenest buildings will be able not only to reduce energy and water use, but also to produce more energy and water than they consume. For example, a "net-zero" energy home or building produces in a year at least as much power as it uses.

When it comes to water, green construction experts on Florida's campuses say ample rainfall means potable water should no longer be necessary for either toilets or lawns in new construction ["Blue — the New Green"].

Green roofs lower the overall temperature of buildings, which then require less energy to cool. By capturing stormwater, they also dramatically reduce the amount of runoff that drains to retention ponds and has to be dealt with by municipal systems. In central Florida, Schmid Construction topped off the Headquarter Honda car dealership in Clermont — the first platinum-certified dealership in Florida — with a roof that integrates vegetation and a photovoltaic solar panel system, another next-gen feature.

Cooling towers chill reclaimed stormwater for use in the building.

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Garden areas consist of native plants. Reclaimed stormwater is used to water the plants.

Green engineers and contractors report that design and construction at the level of "basic" LEED certification costs about the same as traditional building — with the exception of photovoltaic panels. The panels are one reason why reaching LEED platinum certification more expensive, although costs are beginning to come down.

Meanwhile, clients who analyze costs over the life of a new building will find green design and construction not just comparable, but cheaper, experts say. "Looking at total lifecycle costs is key," says Darren Fancher, a mechanical engineer with the Florida Department of Management Services who has led Florida's effort to reduce lifetime energy use and costs in state-owned buildings.

In 2008, the Legislature passed the Sustainable Buildings Act requiring all state agencies to adopt some sort of ratings system, such as LEED, the Florida Green Building Coalition's matrix, the Green Globes or another. The first projects built under the new law have had a remarkable impact on energy use and costs. For example, building the new Department of Revenue complex in Tallahassee green saved taxpayers $281,630 in energy costs over the past year, thanks to sustainable design practices and a highly efficient air-conditioning system.

Building green is not only about saving money and resources. The health of people who live and work in the buildings is also key. In Miami, law firm Bilzin Sumberg last fall moved its 230 employees into a 36-story LEED gold office tower called 1450 Brickell. The firm will savemoney over time from more efficient operations and lower energy and water bills. But more than any other factor, says managing partner John Sumberg, the partners chose their new digs for the quality of the workspace. As just one example, Sumberg describes natural lighting and ease of reading as significantly improved — crucial for lawyers. Everything at work — from carpet to paint to furniture and cleaning supplies — is non-toxic.

"I can't tell you how many people didn't have to call in sick today or didn't have to take a Claritin today because we moved into this building," says Sumberg. "But I feel certain that people are healthier — and I know that people are happier."

The roof of the Headquarter Honda car dealership in Clermont integrates vegetation and a photovoltaic solar panel system. It is the first LEED platinum-certified dealership in Florida. [Photo: Headquarter Honda]

Taking the LEED

Turner Construction in Miami built the TD Bank in Fort Lauderdale with 400 solar panels that produce at least 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year — more than the 97,000 kilowatt-hours required to operate the building. TD Bank is seeking LEED platinum certification. [Photo: TD Bank]

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process is a ratings system based on seven categories — including water efficiency, energy, materials, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. The standards were developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Developers submit projects to a group called the Green Building Certification Institute, which administers the program through third-party groups. The level of certification a building achieves — certified, silver, gold or platinum — depends on how it scores on LEED's 100-point scale. Platinum certification, for example, requires a score of 80 or above. The average cost of certification is around $2,000.