Pete Spittler
Architect believes sustainability is a team effort.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – January 16, 2013 – Pete Spittler stresses that when it comes to sustainable development, obtaining LEED Certification is only the first step. As a sustainability-focused architect, Pete Spittler makes every effort to seek LEED Certification for his developments, but he stresses that once building is complete, occupants must take over and ensure sustainability efforts are continued.
LEED Certification, Pete Spittler explains, stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The process verifies a building has been constructed to their environmentally-friendly standards, with a 110-point rating scale determining whether a building is sufficiently “green.”
However, as Pete Spittler points out, LEED Certification illustrates that the builders and architects have completed their part of the task. Once the builders leave the site, though, Pete Spittler emphasizes that the responsibility shifts to those who take over the building and reside there. To ensure sustainability and protect the future of our planet’s resources, Pete Spittler outlines five things building owners should do to ensure sustainable development continues to benefit the environment.
- Create a long-term plan. From the outset, Pete Spittler advises that building owners must create a document that outlines steps that should be taken each year to ensure sustainability is maintained. This document can be carried over should building ownership and management change over the years. One way to ensure this process is completed successfully is to appoint a committee of team members who can work with experts to develop and carry out a plan that ensures success.
- Put the plan into practice by weaving it into day-to-day operations. Pete Spittler believes processes like testing electricity and low-flow water systems to ensure they are working properly become habit if implemented from the start. Pete Spittler recommends requiring participants to report back on a regular basis on these measures to hold team members accountable.
- Analyze all processes regularly. By regularly measuring sustainability tasks on a regular basis, Pete Spittler has found that building management and residents can identify areas that need improvement. Pete Spittler stresses the importance of regularly studying policies on issues like recycling, waste management, and green purchasing policies to ensure proper green practices are in place.
- Occupant training. Pete Spittler says it’s important for building owners and management to regularly train all building occupants on use of sustainability measures within the building. These processes are useless unless building occupants know how to operate them properly, Pete Spittler has found.
- Maintain building properly. Sustainable appliances and systems often have warranties that require proper operation. Pete Spittler urges building owners to review these operational requirements and require all tenants to follow policies in order to maximize these systems’ benefits.
By continuing to operate buildings properly long after they’ve been built, Pete Spittler believes occupants can encourage the long-term sustainability of projects.
Contact Peter F. Spittler
9313 Kings Hollow Court
Mentor, OH 44060