First Green Building
First Green Building
First Green Building
HISTORY OF GREEN BUILDINGThe concept of sustainable development can be traced to the energy (especially fossil oil) crisis and [7] the environment pollution concern in the 1970s. The green building movement in the U.S. originated from the need and desire for more energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction practices. There are a number of motives for building green, including environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, modern sustainability initiatives call for an integrated and synergistic design to both new construction and in the retrofitting of existing structures. Also known as sustainable design, this approach integrates the building life-cycle with each green practice employed with a design-purpose to create a synergy among the practices used. The concept of Green Building concentrates mainly on two points: Increasing the efficiency with which buildings use energy, water and materials Reducing building impacts of human health and the environment, through better site selection,
design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal throughout the complete life cycle
Why is Green Building important? The growth and development of our communities has a large impact on our natural environment. The manufacturing, design, construction, and operation of the buildings in which we live and work are responsible for the consumption of many of our natural resources. In the United States, buildings account for: 39% 68% 30% 38% 12% of of of of of total energy use total electricity consumption landfill waste carbon dioxide emissions total water consumption
Environmental Benefits Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems Improve air and water quality Reduce waste streams Conserve and restore natural resources
Economic Benefits Reduce operating costs Improve occupant productivity Enhance asset value and profits Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social Benefits Enhance occupant health and comfort Improve indoor air quality Minimize strain on local utility infrastructure Improve overall quality of life
Green Building Programs LEED, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is the nationally accepted rating system for commercial and institutional green buildings. The program helps establish a standard measurement for green building. Contact the US Green Building Council for more information www.usgbc.org/leed/http://www.usgbc.org/leed/ Green Built NC Homes Certification Program is a state-wide residential green building rating program administered by the WNCGBC. Homes receive a rating and certificate based on third party inspections. Contact the WNC Green Building Council for more informationhttp://www.wncgbc.org/greenbuilt/
What is leed? Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED is intended to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
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1. A collection of reference buildings are used to estimate the environmental impacts of any building seeking LEED certification in a designated rating scheme. 2.
3. Data regarding actual impacts on environmental and human health are used to assign points to individual categories and measures. This system results in a weighted average for each rating scheme based both upon actual impacts and the relative importance of those impacts to human health and environmental quality. In addition, the LEED council appears to have assigned credit and measure weighting based upon the market implications of point allocation. From 2010 buildings can use carbon offsets to achieve Green Power Credits for LEED-NC (New Construction Certification)