What does building green mean?
Building green is a total project approach to doing as much as possible to improve site usage, water conservation, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor air quality while respecting the design and budget.
Does it cost more to build green?
Building green does not have to cost more. If green is a goal from inception, proper system and material selections don't have to cost more. PV solar electric or geothermal heating/cooling systems will add to the cost, but the payback is quick and fuel or utility rates are only getting higher.
Why should I build green?
Your building will be more comfortable and significantly less expensive to heat or cool. The indoor air quality is cleaner and free of harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) and other contaminants. Water, electric and fossil fuel usage is greatly reduced.
Greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits the environment, your carbon footprint is reduced and it's just good for the planet. Green homes /buildings are higher quality and cost much less to operate.
Will my project look different if I build green?
No. There is no aesthetic difference between trees from a managed or unmanaged forest except for the label. The same goes for carpet or paint with no VOC's. You may notice how much better the indoor air smells or how much less the building costs you to operate, but proper material selection is transparent. You could use a recycled glass counter top or reclaimed barn wood flooring, and that you would see (very cool).
What is the LEED program?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system is a nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings and homes, issued by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Ratings are Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum, depending on total points or credits acquired from five areas: site sustainability, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, material and resources and indoor environment quality.
|
 |
Additional LEED FAQ
Click here for additional LEED FAQ from the USGBC.
How can I have my project LEED certified?
LEED certification starts at the design level. A project must be registered with the USGBC and in our case, we handle all the paperwork and submissions for a LEED rating. There is a cost for registration and 3 rd party verification, which is Energy Star compliant. The costs are between $1000 and $3000 for a home or small building, and may entitle the owner to additional rebates and incentives.
So why doesn't everyone build green?
Many people still do not understand the process, benefits or long term energy savings that are inherent with building green. This approach is still in its infancy and the industry has to better to educate the end users and the design professionals as well. If everyone understood the long term effects and benefits, building green would become mandatory.
Do you have a green building question? Email us and we will do our best
to answer your question promptly.
Knowing what we know, why would anyone build any other way than green?
|
|
