November 6, 2008

Going Green (1 of 2)

by Environmental Building Strategies in Green Building, LEED Tags: Green Building, LEED, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Site, USGBC No Comments

So what does it mean to go “green?” The US Green Building Council (USGBC) utilizes the Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) system to highlight the following five factors as considerations for constructing a green building. While not all green buildings integrate every one of these, they are important to consider and to help explain a little more about what a green building is. 1. “Promote Selection of Appropriate Sites and Environmentally Sustainable Site Development.” By utilizing preexisting structures, whether a brownfield or an old building, the need for new materials and open spaces decreases. Making sensible decisions about the location of the building is also vital, such that it is constructed near public transit for example, or that it is not built in the habitat of an endangered species. 2. “Promote Efficient Use of Water Resources.” Making sure water is utilized in an efficient manner both inside the home as well as for landscaping will lessen the demand for this precious and necessary resource. 3. “Conserve Energy, Use Renewable Energy, and Protect Atmospheric Resources.” By aiming to use 20% less energy than a typical green building, green buildings will lessen the need for fossil fuels. They will focus less on these fossil fuels on a whole and more on renewable sources like wind and solar power.