Building Green...
In constructing a new building, building "green" is fast becoming the main goal in the overall construction. Building an affordable yet green used to be out of reach, but as technology advances and consumer demand grows, answers are surfacing.
But what does building green actually mean? We made the effort to research this and to become certified with several international energy efficiency programs as this seems to be the way much of the market is turning. Our experience in building has already shown us that many viable alternatives are already available and have been for some time, it has just been overlooked because it isn' t the norm. But techniques are rapidly changing. And, finally, what a relief to know it can be done cost effectively if the proper steps are followed. In the maze of what is out there we have waded through it to help you gain a full understanding without getting overwhelmed.
< Solar Electric Units
Here is some of
we have found:
Building green isn't just for
the hippies living off the land in straw bale communes or the upper-rich who don't care
what it may cost. Many national companies have united and formulated rules and regulations
to make building a certified "green" a working reality. There are green building
organizations, rating systems, and design guides in place; such as NW EnergyStar, LEED
Programs, the U.S. Building Green Council, and the EPA. These organizations spell out to
building product manufacturers, contractors, and building department administration, even
our and European governments, state what qualifies as environmentally viable and how to
apply such technologies.
- Green -
Essentially, green means having no or limited negative impact on the environment. This
includes using renewable resources, recycling, creating sustainable products, pollutant
and waste free, conducive to maintaining health, globally. It seems impractical at first.
Environmental problems and challenges face us daily. Past, present, and future how we
choose to live affects the environment. Some things we feel we cannot control, like it is
too big a problem for one person or small industry to address, though we up for the task.
The surrounding environment does control our well-being. And "going green" is
about choices made out of consciousness of what is available, and within our practical
reach, that is earth friendly. There are different levels of green, from sorting out and
recycling paper at the office, to using only energy efficient appliances, using
alternative fuels, to supporting mandates on limiting pollutants, and of course our main
topic B designing and building a green building. Next we will look deeper into just that.
Part II - Looking Deeper
Designing and building green
can creatively meet our modern lifestyle needs within natures provisions. The conjoined
efforts of many groups/programs within communities international wide are making great
strides in setting evolving standards of just how to achieve this. Mostly it takes an open
mind, and the ability to adapt as each new day brings discoveries of just how to most
effectively use what nature has already provided. Our research has brought several
programs to our attention and affected our design process considerably. Next we will look
at these programs and what it means for you the consumer, and us - as the
designer/builder.
Environmental
Sustainability-
Viable-
! The Energy Star Program
This is a voluntary labeling
program that is actually government backed and it is part of the U.S. EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency). It' s goal is protecting the environment by identifying energy
efficient goods, thus reducing greenhouse emissions and helping to sustaining life. It is
a program that is a labeling system for the products consumers use. There are a wide range
of categories, 40 in all, such as appliances, office equipment, and even homes. Energy
Star partners with public and private sector organizations to promote energy and cost
savings along with innovation so that you the consumer get the best product with the least
environmental impact. It also ensures that as the designer, we have a trusty resource on
the performance of the products used to build your building.
! LEED Points Rating System Program
LEED is a much more expansive
program that assigns points and credits based on the performance of all the products used
within the building and the energy practices used in building it. It deals with every
aspect involved with a project from conception to end use and the impacts of each choice.
Each impact has a ripple effect over the entire project (recycling unused materials, uses
less energy, which creates less waste, leaving a healthier environment in the end). The
LEED program has identified these effects and incorporated them into the rating system and
their goals. There are 6 main goals -and again- one tends to have a ripple effect in how
they affect the others. Here they are listed below:
Energy Efficiency
Waste Reduction
Using Recycled Materials / Recycle ability
Outdoor Environmental Impact
Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Comfort
Lowering Health Care Costs / Health Impacts
Product choice combined with
thoughtful educated design equals sustain ability. Achieving any of these goals starts
with the design, and LEED requires project planning.
- Too green - Is there such a thing? Yes. For as many goals as LEED has and achieves it can be overwhelming and make certification seem unattainable. Certification is not so easy to achieve, even if you are following the Reference Guide and Specification Manual. Also, LEED's strictness and complexity creates a conflict with its own goals of trying to create a simplified and sustainable building, often voiding or negating energy efficiency with its requirements. The result of adhering to each specification and procedure in the end achieves the opposite of its goals, benefits at a cost. By some measures the costs are too high in comparison to the benefit they offer. Many feel that this defeats the entire purpose of their program, making it impractical. It is something LEED is aware of and is taking measures to correct, how to be certifiably green without creating more hassle or costing more money than it is worth. Life and it' s complexities.....
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