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Building Green
Green Building is commonly defined as design and
construction practices that reduce negative
environmental impacts while creating healthier
places to live and work. A holistic approach
to green building addresses strategies in five
areas:
- Site - Orient buildings to restore
habitat, harness natural energy flows,
eliminate impervious surfaces, and encourage
urban settings to reduce transportation
impacts.
- Water - Capture natural water flows,
eliminate storm water runoff, and harvest
rain water to minimize potable water demand
- Energy - Optimize passive and active
design to minimize energy demand, reduce
carbon emissions, and incorporate renewable
energies
- Materials - Select only non-toxic
materials that are evaluated for their
lifecycle impacts from extraction to end of
use
- Indoor Environmental Quality - Provide a
healthy, comfortable, and controllable
environment for building occupants
What are the
benefits to building and living green?
Operating cost & utility cost savings
Reduced energy, water, and maintenance costs for
the home’s lifecycle accrue continuous savings
that become even more substantial as utility
costs escalate
Reduced ecological footprint
Using fewer resources and ones that are
reclaimed, local, and responsibly harvested
preserves quality of life for future generations
and the planet
Improved indoor environmental quality
Eliminating toxic substances that adversely
affect air quality, while incorporating fresh
air and natural light create healthy spaces to
live and work.
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