GREEN BUILDING - is the practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water and materials. This also reduces a building’s impact on human health and the environment through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal. The complete building life cycle!

Green building leads to numerous things. The first, is reduced operating costs. By building green you are increasing productivity and reducing energy and water use. The second thing building green leads to is improved public and occupant health. This comes from higher in-door air quality. Further, building green reduces environmental impacts. For example, by lessening storm water run off and the heat island effect.

To look at a green constructed building is no different than looking at a conventional home. Their appearance is indistinguishable from the less sustainable counterpart.

Green buildings are scored by rating systems. One of these is called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. This rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Green Globes from GBI and others have also developed rating systems.

Buildings have a huge environmental impact, in the United States alone buildings account for:

1. 39% of energy use
2. 12% of total water consumption
3. 68% of total electricity consumption
4. 38% of carbon dioxide emission

Energy efficient lighting options. Energy Star Certification. Natural Sunlight Use – Solatube, Velux Skylights. On-Demand Hot Water Heaters Energy Recovery Ventilation- RenewAire Space Pak heating and cooling systems or Geothermal systems. Icynene Insulation System Soundproof walls and ceilings by Quiet Solution Bamboo Flooring and Cork Flooring – Natural and Renewable Ceramic and Slate Tile flooring – Maximize heat gain and minimize waste. Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures Odor Free Paint Sustainable counter top solutions – Paperstone Siding Choices – Hardie Plank, Certainteed vinyl, Pine, Cedar, Pine Log, Etc. Solar Panels Passive Infrared Sensor Lighting. Did you know? Did you know the average 2,000 square foot home generates about 8,000 pounds of waste that is typically thrown into the landfill? Did you know that an aluminum can that is recycled can be back on the grocery store shelf in as little as 60 days? Did you know that the cardboard that we recycle can be made into gift-wrap, new boxes, drywall liner, roofing felt and packaging materials? Did you know that recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees? Did you know that plastic is usually recycled into plastic lumber, benches, polymer blends and trash receptacles? Did you know that a modern glass bottle could take 4,000 years or more to decompose? Did you know that Americans throw away 25 million plastic beverage bottles every hour? Did you know that recycled drywall is often made into Portland Cement, an amendment in composting systems and as an ingredient in agriculture land application? Did you know that aluminum is recycled into beverage containers, automobiles, and construction materials? Did you know that the US is the number one trash producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person, per year? Did you know that recycling creates 1.1 million US jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls? Did you know that every ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees? Did you know that the energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for four hours?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at 828-733-3330, email us, or use our online request form.