USGBC Louisiana 2017 Green Report Online

US Green Building Council
Louisiana Chapter
2017 State Green Report
Over the past ten years, USGBC
Louisiana and its dedicated network of
volunteers have been working to make
Louisiana a greener, healthier place to
live, work, and learn. Here we offer a
snapshot of the progress Louisiana is
making towards a more sustainable and
resilient future. This report is intended to
provide a foundation for further
discussions and actions.
USGBC Louisiana is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization
working to transform the way buildings and communities
are designed, built and operated, enabling an
environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and
prosperous Louisiana. We do this through education,
advocacy, research and service. For more information, go
to www.usgbclouisiana.org.

Natural Resources
Forestry
Louisiana’s forestlands cover 48% of the
state’s area or 13.8 million acres. Private,
non-industrial landowners own 62 percent
of the state’s forestland, forest products
industries own 29 percent and the general
public owns 9 percent. This renewable
resource provides the raw material for
Louisiana’s second largest manufacturing
employer – the forest products industry –
with over 900 firms in 45 parishes directly
employing over 25,000 people. An
additional 8,000 people are employed in
the harvesting and transportation of the
resource. Louisiana’s forests provide a
multitude of other benefits, including clean
air and water, wildlife habitat, recreational
opportunities and scenic beauty.
wood, however there is no requirement for forest
landowners to participate in these certification programs.
The three most recognizable sustainable forestry
certification programs are American Tree Farm System,
Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the more rigorous,
Forest Stewardship Council.
The state’s Forestry Productivity Program provides
financial assistance to eligible landowners to offset
landowners’ costs of establishing a crop - with a few
stipulations regarding their forestry practices - and helps
with the state’s reforestation efforts. In 2013, 268
applications covering 21,767 acres for a total of $1.8
million for reforestation activities were approved under the
FPP.
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the
Louisiana Forestry Association, and other nonprofit
organizations promote sustainable forestry management
practices to protect the future of our forests. There are
forestry management certification systems that set
standards to encourage environmentally sound practices
and protect against the importation of illegally harvested

Ground Water & Stormwater
The sustainability of Louisiana’s water resources is heavily
dependent upon the management of water withdrawals
and usage. A recent study by the Water Institute of the
Gulf has revealed many instances across Louisiana where
the removal of water stored in the system exceeds the
amount of water recharging the system. Different areas of
the state have certain unique combinations of water usage,
with agriculture and industry often dominating the overall
water balance. The greatest amount of ground water is
used for rice irrigation, followed by public consumption, and
then industry. Power generation and industry are the
largest consumers of fresh water.
One commonality across the state is that a large amount of
drinking water is needed to support urban and rural
population centers. Projections of future population growth
reveal that, absent adaptations to change, patterns of
water level decline can be expected to continue.
A consequence of climate change is the intrusion of
saltwater into freshwater systems. Since Hurricane Katrina,
coastal Louisiana has experienced higher than expected
salinities in traditionally freshwater marshes and
waterways.
Aging water infrastructure continues to be a concern
across the state. Greater investment in maintenance and
green infrastructure would support longer term
sustainability of the water supply.
The short term abundance of surface water from heavy
rainfall continues to threaten communities. Activity to
remove surface water as quickly as possible has
compounded the issue and current thinking is to detain and
retain water, allowing for percolation and replenishment of
ground water.
Article 23 of the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning
Ordinance (CZO) requires a Stormwater Management Plan
for building permits. The new regulation applies to any new
development or redevelopment, aside from single- or twofamily
residences, that is five thousand (5,000) square feet
or more of impervious surface, or a total site area of one
(1) acre or more. It requires that the plan retain, detain, and
filter the first one and one quarter inch (1.25”) of
stormwater runoff during each rain event.
Due to heavy pumping of certain aquifers within the Capital
area, saltwater from the south has moved across the Baton
Rouge Fault into some of the fresh water aquifers in East
Baton Rouge Parish. The threat to the area’s drinking
water has raised concern and conservation efforts have
become a high priority.

Coastline
The Louisiana coastline is the fifth longest in the country
and third longest in the contiguous United States. A
commonly-used statistic is that approximately one football
field of dry land is lost every hour. While loss varies from
basin to basin, land continues to disappear at an
increasing rate. Nearly 40% of all land loss in the United
Sates is in Louisiana.
Natural causes of land loss include reduced sediment flow
from the Mississippi River and its tributaries, sea-level rise,
and subsidence. Human interference with natural
processes has also taken its toll on the coast’s rich
resources that drive Louisiana’s economy.
Populations, infrastructure, and diverse ecosystems are at
risk from the impacts of climate change. The wetlands are
critical to the protection of communities and their way of
life.
Numerous environmental organizations are working to
preserve, protect, and restore the coastal lands. The
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration
Act of 1990 (CWPPRA) is federal legislation designed to
identify and fund coastal restoration projects. A Coastal
Master Plan has been developed and the state has
finalized the 50 year, 50 billion dollar plan, promising to
rebuild and revitalize the area economically.
Builders, designers, and planners are also responding to
the threats of climate change—urban cooling, air quality,
water quality, land drainage, and flood risks. Improved
building design, greening infrastructure and supply
systems, and better city planning will help mitigate climate
change outcomes.
Image source: Southeastern Louisiana University

Energy
The following is an analysis by the US Energy Information
Administration of Louisiana’s 2014 energy data.
Louisiana's total energy consumption and per capita
energy consumption both rank among the highest in the
nation, largely because of an industrial sector dominated
by the energy-intensive chemical, petroleum, and natural
gas industries. Energy consumption in Louisiana's
industrial sector is second only to that of Texas. Although
demand for air conditioning is high during the hot, humid
summer months, heating demand is limited in the
moderate winters, and Louisiana's total and per capita
energy consumption in the residential sector are both near
the national median.
Mississippi River and typically contribute about one-sixth of
the state's net electricity generation. Petroleum, petroleum
coke, industrial gases, woody biomass, and hydroelectricity
provide nearly all the rest of Louisiana's net electricity
generation. About three-tenths of Louisiana's net electricity
is generated at industrial and commercial facilities. The
state does not generate enough electricity to meet
consumer demand and receives power from the regional
interstate grid.
Louisiana is also near the top of the nation in carbon
dioxide emissions.
Electricity
Per capita retail sales of electricity in Louisiana are among
the highest in the nation, particularly in the residential
sector, where three-fifths of all households use electricity
for home heating and almost all households have air
conditioning. The primary fuel used for electricity
generation in Louisiana is natural gas. It provides about
three-fifths of the state's net electricity generation, nearly
twice the national average. Coal was Louisiana's secondleading
source for electricity generation for decades but
now provides less generation than the state's two singlereactor
nuclear power plants. They are located along the

Energy Production
Louisiana energy production is dominated by fossil fuel
combustion with 48% coming from petroleum and 37%
from natural gas. Coal, nuclear, renewable sources, and
importation of electricity from out of state add 3 to 5%
each.
Renewable energy
Louisiana obtains less than 4% of its net electricity by
generation from renewable sources compared to 10%
nationally. Biomass is abundant in Louisiana, and
electricity generated from wood and wood waste accounts
for more than two-thirds of the state's renewable
generation. Hydroelectric power provides almost all of the
remaining renewable generation. Sugar cane waste, called
bagasse, and other agricultural residues can provide
additional biomass resources. Facilities to convert bagasse
into pellets for power plant fuel and other products are
being developed.
Louisiana has a small amount of distributed (customersited,
small-scale) solar photovoltaic (PV) generation,
which provided all of the state's solar electricity generation
in 2015. State tax credits for installation of distributed solar
systems, which were first available in 2008, are fully
subscribed and the program will end on mid 2017.
Louisiana has little wind potential. In 2013, the state
legislature repealed state tax credits for the development of
wind systems.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission initiated a
renewable energy pilot program in 2010 to determine
whether a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) was suitable
for the state. In 2013, the commission concluded that
Louisiana did not need a mandatory RPS. Louisiana has
other policies designed to encourage renewable energy
and energy efficiency, including voluntary electric utility
efficiency programs, energy standards for public buildings,
and net metering. Distributed installations of up to 25
kilowatts using solar PV, wind, biomass, and other
renewable technologies are eligible for utility net metering,
but total consumer capacity connected to the system is
limited to 0.5% of each utility's load. Because customer
demand for distributed connections has exceeded that
limit, the state is considering how to accommodate
additional distributed facilities.
Energy Use
The energy consumption is dominated by industrial users,
who account for 71% of the state total resulting in an
industrial consumption that is 6½ times the national per
capita average.
Residential and commercial energy usage is near the
national per capita averages. Per capita transportation
usage is about 60% above the national average.
Analysis by US Energy Information Administration

Built Environment &
Communities
Green Certified Buildings
The LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)
Green Building Rating System was devised by the US
Green Building Council to create healthier, more
sustainable communities by transforming the way we
design, build, and operate buildings, neighborhoods, and
cities. Buildings earning LEED certification earn points in
several areas that address sustainability. These areas are
location & transport, site environment, energy efficiency,
water efficiency, air quality, material choices, and waste.
There are LEED rating systems designed to fit a variety of
project types.
Independence Park Library, Baton Rouge
LEED Silver
In 2005 there was one LEED certified commercial project
and zero LEED certified homes. Today there are over 1000
LEED certified buildings in the state representing over 9.5
million square feet of space. LEED provides a structure
around which to frame the state’s green building
conversation. There are over 900 LEED credentialed
professionals driving building innovation and durability.
LEED Activity in Louisiana
Registered Commercial Projects 273
Certified Commercial Projects 129
Certified LEED for Homes 601
Total Activity 1003
Tulane’s Yulman Stadium, New Orleans
LEED Silver

J. Bennett Johnston Laboratory, Tulane University, New Orleans
LEED Gold
LEED Space Type
Education 86
Office & Office: Mixed Use 76
Military Base 36
Retail 28
Lodging 20
Public Assembly & Religious Worship 20
Heath Care 14
Residential (Commercial Rating System) 14
Industrial Manufacturing 11
Other 10
Public Order & safety 7
Laboratory 6
Warehouse & Distribution 5
Service 3
Homes 601
Festival Grounds at City Park, New Orleans
This is Louisiana’s first SITES certified project.
SITES is a sustainability-focused rating system that provides
standards for environmentally friendly landscapes.
Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center, Thibodaux
LEED Silver

Case Study:
ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Enterprise works to finance and support affordable
green community housing and development
throughout the country, and their Gulf Coast market
is based in New Orleans. Their system for home
certification generally aligns with the LEED for
Homes system, and is aimed at helping developers
develop affordable housing. Post Hurricane Katrina,
they worked to help develop new projects as well as
refurbish homes and buildings that were destroyed
during the disaster
As of February 2017, Enterprise has invested nearly
$380 million to support the production of more than
10,000 affordable homes in Louisiana and
Mississippi, over 8,500 of which are now complete.
Lafitte Faubourg Development
Enterprise has taken on the role of a developer with
the Faubourg Lafitte project. This is a public
housing complex that was redeveloped after Katrina
made the space uninhabitable. It is anticipated to be
Louisiana’s first LEED for Neighborhood
Development certified project.
Enterprise by the numbers
As of December 31, 2016 –
Total projects certified = 61
Total units certified = 1,328
97% of these are in New Orleans
Photo source: Enterprise Community Partners

Energy Efficiency
ENERGY STAR
One of the most recognizable consumer labels for home
purchases is ENERGY STAR, a U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps
businesses and individuals save money and protect our
environment through superior energy efficiency.
The ENERGY STAR program was established by EPA in
1992, under the authority of the Clean Air Act Section
103(g). Section103(g) of the Clean Air Act directs the
Administrator to "conduct a basic engineering research and
technology program to develop, evaluate, and demonstrate
non–regulatory strategies and technologies for reducing air
pollution." With the Department of Energy, the
Environmental Protection Agency developed a program to
identify and promote energy–efficient products and
buildings in order to reduce energy consumption, improve
energy security, and reduce pollution through voluntary
labeling of or other forms of communication about products
and buildings that meet the highest energy efficiency
standards. (EPA)
Now in its 23rd year, the ENERGY STAR program has
boosted the adoption of energy efficient products,
practices, and services through valuable partnerships,
objective measurement tools, and consumer education.
Homes and commercial facilities can benchmark or track
their energy usage and become ENERGY STAR certified.
There are 115 Energy Star Certified plants and
buildings representing 26.32 million Sq. Ft. of ENERGY
STAR® Labeled Space in Louisiana.
Tracking and comparing energy use or benchmarking, is
an easy tool used to recognize opportunities for energy
savings. ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager is a free,
online tool that is widely used to recognize and improve
energy performance.
Energy use data continues to be elusive in Louisiana. The
state has no policy in place that requires utilities to release
energy use data to customers or third parties.
Utility Based Energy Incentives
Entergy New Orleans, which is regulated by the City of
New Orleans, has been offering a portfolio of energy
efficiency programs called Energy Smart since 2011.
Under request of the Public Service Commission, which
regulates all other investor-owned utilities, SWEPCO,
Cleco, and Entergy Louisiana/Gulf States began offering
energy efficiency programs for electricity customers in
2014.
Regulations
Some energy efficiency regulations have been established
but enforcement is not consistent. One example is Senate
Bill 240 (2007) which requires construction or renovation of
major state-funded facilities to be designed and built to
exceed state energy codes by at least 30%, subject to a
life-cycle cost analysis.

Green Schools
Greening our schools and raising the next
generation to be sustainability natives is a
priority for USGBC Louisiana.
Over the past decade, a robust Green Schools movement
has developed across the country. The U.S. Department of
Education, along with a network of nonprofits, including the
USGBC Center for Green Schools inspire schools to strive
for excellence in whole school sustainability through a
variety of programs and initiatives.
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education inspired
schools to strive for excellence in sustainability when they
created the Green Ribbon Award program, which defined
the three main components of a green school. Green
schools: Reduce environmental impacts and costs;
improve occupants’ heath and performance, and increase
environment and sustainability literacy. All three of these
areas are called Pillars, and serve as the basis for
recognition. Both K-12 and post-secondary schools are
recognized.
Louisiana enrolled in the DOE’s Green Ribbon School
Award Program in 2015. The first Green Ribbon Award
Schools in Louisiana were named in the spring of 2015.
They are Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans,
Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School and Baton
Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, and the
University of Louisiana Lafayette. The 2017 Louisiana
Honorees are Belle Chasse Academy in Belle Chasse,
Mayfair Lab School in Baton Rouge, and Louisiana State
University. The Green Ribbon Program is administered by
the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in Louisiana.
Established in 2013, the
Louisiana Green Schools
Challenge, empowers
students and teacher to
make green
improvements in their
learning environments by
engage in in hands on
green projects. Over 100
schools have
participated in the Green
Schools Challenge, making significant impact that
includes energy costs reduction, landfill waste
reduction, composting, organic gardening and healthy
food production, and reduced carbon emissions.
Four of Louisiana’s five -12 schools recognized by the
Department of Education’s Green Ribbon program are
Green Schools Challenge participants.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Recovery
School District in New Orleans committed to rebuilding of
its K-12 schools to LEED Silver Standards. There are 11
LEED for Schools Certified facilities and 49 Schools
registered to become LEED for Schools Certified.

Arthur Ashe Charter
Baton Rouge Magnet High
Lake Area High School
Sophie B. Wright High School
LB Landry-Walker High School
Crocker Elementary

Waste & Recycling
Transportation
According to the Environmental Protection Agency each
person (US average) generates nearly 4.5 pound of solid
waste per day amounting to 3.8 million tons in Louisiana
per year.
National recycling and composting prevented 87.2 million
tons of material away from being disposed in 2013, up from
15 million tons in 1980. This prevented the release of
approximately 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent into the air in 2013—equivalent to taking over
39 million cars off the road for a year.
Biking
Baton Rouge has 27.6 miles of bike lanes and 32 miles of
shared lanes built to accommodate cars and bikes . New
Orleans has over 100 miles of bike lanes, which boasts a
significant increase from its previous five miles of bike
lanes before Hurricane Katrina in 2005 . According to the
American Community Survey, New Orleans has the tenth
highest percentage in the country of people who cycle to
work each day .
Act 185 of 1989 mandates a goal for Louisiana cities of
25% reduction in land filled solid waste through recycling
and the implementation of waste reduction programs.
But the disruption of recycling services due to recent
climate events, and the lack of adequate funding for
oversight, leaves compliance voluntary.
Lafayette’s Project Front Yard is an initiative which
brings together individuals, business, government
and media partners to address community
beautification through education.
Taking the lead from more than forty action items in
Lafayette’s Comprehensive Plan, Project Front
Yard’s mission is to build awareness and stimulate
improvement of the face of our local
community. Initiatives under Project Front Yard
include revitalization of gateways, improved
streetscapes, litter removal and prevention, public
art, river cleanup, and education.
Most benefits of bicycling are obvious. It reduces traffic
congestion, helps the environment by not burning fossil
fuels and improves the health of bikers. In a less obvious
way, a thriving cycling community promotes different types

of economic growth. In New Orleans, there are 177 bike
shops, which employ 753 people, generating $69,966,000
in sales each year.
Cities, large and small, across the state are recognizing the
value of bikeways as an amenity that attracts economic
investment.
Electric & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Shifts in car purchases are showing a gradual increase in
the number of alternative fuel and high efficiency cars
purchased in the state. Louisiana has enacted several laws
to support the establishment of a charging infrastructure
and to incentivize the adoption of vehicles using alternative
and renewable fuels. Examples include:
1)The state has mandated that the Louisiana Division of
Administration must purchase dedicated alternative fuel
vehicles (AFVs) capable of operating on natural gas or
liquefied petroleum gas (propane), or bi-fuel vehicles
capable of operating on conventional fuel or natural gas,
propane, or any non-ethanol advanced biofuel. State
agency vehicles may be granted a waiver if fueling stations
are not available within a 25 mile radius, the agency cannot
recoup the incremental cost of the vehicle within 60
months, or the available vehicles do not meet agency
specifications.
city/highway average of 24 mpg. Law enforcement
vehicles, certified emergency vehicles, and state agency
vehicles with prior written authorization are exempt from
this requirement. (Reference Louisiana Revised
Statutes 39:364 and 39:1646)
2) The state offers an income tax credit of 36% of the cost
of converting a vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel, the
incremental cost of purchasing an original equipment
manufacturer AFV, and the cost of alternative fueling
equipment. Alternatively, a taxpayer may take a tax credit
of 7.2% of the cost of the motor vehicle, up to $1,500. To
qualify for the tax credit, vehicles must be dedicated AFVs
and registered in Louisiana. For the purpose of this
incentive, alternative fuels include natural gas; propane;
non-ethanol based advanced biofuels (excluding flexible
fuel vehicles); and electricity if the vehicle has at least four
wheels, is primarily for on-street use, can attain a minimum
speed of 55 miles per hour, has a minimum battery
capacity of four kilowatt-hours, and can be charged
externally. (Reference Louisiana Administrative Code Title
61, Section 1913, and Louisiana Revised Statutes
Any AFV a state agency purchases or leases must have a
minimum fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon (mpg) for city
driving, 28 mpg for highway driving, or a combined

RESOURCES
Forestry
www.ldaf.state.la.us
www.laforestry.com
us.fsc.org
www.treefarmsystem.org/SFI
www.sfiprogram.org/
Ground Water & Stormwater
www.dnr.la.gov
lwrri.lsu.gov
www.waterinstituteof the gulf.org
www.usgs.org
www.nola.gov
Coastline
La.coast.gov
coastal.la.gov
Energy
www.eia.gov
www.gbig.org
www.enterprisecommunity.org
Energy Efficiency
www.acee.org
www.energystar.gov
Schools
www.ed.gov
Transportation
www.bikeleague.org
wwwsp.dotd.la.gov
www.afdc.energy.gov
www.louisianacleanfuels.org
Waste & Recycling
www.deq.gov
SPECIAL THANK YOU
Monica Gonzalez
Morgan Kastner
Abbie Kobler
Hannah Leis
Casius Pealer

USGBC Louisiana Chapter
Board of Directors
Amber Beezley, Chair
Monica Gonzalez, Vice Chair
Erin Ryerson, Secretary
Richard Longman, Treasurer
Casius Pealer, Special Counsel
Chris Bankston
Alejandra Guzman
Matthew Hedrick
Dru Lamb
Carrie Laurendine
Stephen Ortego
Heather Tank
Gretchen Vanicor
Amanda Vincent
Michael Pousson, ex offico
Shannon Stage, Executive Director
www.usgbclouisiana.org
info@usgbclouisiana.org

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