| A green building is one whose construction and lifetime
of operation assure the healthiest possible environment
while representing the most efficient and least disruptive
use of land, water, energy and resources. The ideal "green"
project preserves and restores habitat that is vital for
sustaining life and becomes a net producer and exporter
of resources, materials, energy and water rather than being
a net consumer.
• What is LEED Certification?
• Why do we need LEED certification?
• What are the benefits to building Green?
• What is Sustainable Development?
• What is Smart Growth?
• What is a high performance building?
 What
is LEED Certification?
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based
national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable
buildings.
Why do we need LEED certification?
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing
building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based
on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state
of the art strategies for sustainable site development,
water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and
indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements
and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive
system offering project certification, professional accreditation,
training and practical resources. LEED was created to:
• Define "green building"
by establishing a common standard of measurement
• Promote integrated,
whole-building design practices
• Recognize environmental
leadership in the building industry
• Stimulate green competition
• Raise consumer awareness
of green building benefits
• Transform the building
market
Visit the USGBC
site for in depth content about LEED.
What are the benefits to building
Green?
Building green over the lifetime use of
the development, means less energy and water consumption,
less impact on the land, resulting in a healthier working
space. There is a wide gamut of benefits ranging from ergonomical
use of space, environmental benefits, financial incentives,
reduced operational costs and promotional values.
To see how your project can benefit, contact
us, or use our project
submittal form to give us more detailed information.
What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainability is defined in dictionaries as the ability
to carry forward or support or maintain for a prolonged
period approaching perpetuity. Sustainable Development has
become a widely used term that goes beyond such economic
security to include issues of environmental impact and resource
use together with social effects. The triple bottom line
created by this approach is what is now commonly meant when
the term Green Sustainable Development is used. Government
sees this as a means of creating a more inclusive society
in which the benefits of increased economic prosperity are
widely shared, with less pollution and more efficient use
of natural resources. The need for growth is as great as
ever especially but not exclusively in the developing world.
Yet the environment is struggling to cope even with the
current levels of consumption. We need new ways of meeting
our expectations and aspirations.
For more information on sustainable development, visit
Georgia Tech's Sustainable
Facilities & Infrastructure site.
What is Smart Growth?
Smart growth recognizes connections between
development and quality of life. It leverages new growth
to improve the community. The features that distinguish
smart growth in a community vary from place to place. In
general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources
in restoring community and vitality to center cities and
older suburbs. New smart growth is more town-centered, is
transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of
housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open
space and many other environmental amenities. But there
is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. Successful
communities do tend to have one thing in common--a vision
of where they want to go and of what things they value in
their community--and their plans for development reflect
these values.
For more information, view this executive summary of Why
Smart Growth: A Primer by International City/County
Management Association with Geoff Anderson
What is a high performance building?
High performance relates to energy efficiency. A high performance window, is one that better insulates, keeps heat out and cold in, in the summer and does the opposite in cooler weather. The same goes for wall materials and attic insulation. The more efficient a structure, the higher it performs and saves energy.
©2008 Community Greenhouse Foundation, Inc. |
