Green building standards aim to create environmentally friendly, sustainable, and healthy buildings. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) established Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to set voluntary and uniform standards. LEED rates buildings in five areas and offers certification levels. Green building standards can increase construction costs, but studies show long-term savings in energy and maintenance costs, as well as increased worker productivity. LEED has been incorporated into legislation and building codes in 49 US cities and has global projects in 24 countries.
Green building standards focus on making residential and commercial buildings more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and healthier for their occupants. Many builders and planners are implementing green building standards in their designs to create buildings that use environmentally friendly materials, are highly energy efficient, and have excellent air quality. The United States has been slow to adopt green building standards, possibly due to an abundance of energy and cheap building materials, but with the growing popularity of greening, it is becoming more and more common practice.
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is the leading authority on green building standards in the United States. Their preamble states their commitment to adhere to the following five core values:
Sustainability: A building should use sustainable resources and technologies.
Equity: Design should show respect for the community and the cultures that coexist within it. Plans should be made taking into account all socioeconomic levels.
Inclusiveness: USGBC encourages community involvement in community building and design.
Progress: Projects should have measurable results of a building’s impact on the area’s environment, community, and economy.
Connection: Green building design should respect the connection between man and nature and acknowledge his stewardship over it.
Accountability, transparency, leadership, innovation and integrity are the pillars of green building standards. In August 1998, the USGBC established Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a system for designing and implementing green building standards. LEED sets voluntary and uniform standards that take into account the entire building design. Using a points system, it rewards builders whose innovation in green building design advances the field. LEED’s goal is to make green building standards a viable way of building that is accepted by the mainstream, not just environmentalists.
There are five areas in which a building is rated by LEED: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Certification levels start at Certified and progress to Silver, Gold and Platinum, which is the highest.
Many think green building standards are cost-prohibitive. While there is a marked increase in the cost of construction, green building advocates cite studies demonstrating savings down the road. The energy savings enjoyed by the owners of green buildings translates into lower costs, the possibility of renting commercial and residential spaces for increasingly healthier and more satisfied tenants. According to one report, an initial investment of two percent more in green building design represents a savings of 20 percent in total construction cost over the life of the building.
Another report showed that an investment of US$4 (USD) per square foot fetches about US$58 per square foot over 20 years. The benefits are quantifiable in terms of health and productivity, operating and maintenance costs, savings in utilities and savings in emissions. Buildings constructed with green building standards show a 16 to 16 percent increase in worker productivity.
Some buildings that adhere to green building standards use geothermal heating and cooling systems, gray or black water recycling systems, skylights or other natural lighting, solar or wind energy, increased ventilation, sustainable wood products, and doubly filtered air. Construction debris is often recycled for use by other builders in future projects.
To date, 49 cities in 15 states have incorporated LEED standards into legislation and building codes. Nine federal initiatives have been taken in federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense, among others. Office buildings, apartment buildings, homes, government buildings, and schools can all benefit from using green building standards. Recently, the USGBC launched a call for designers, planners and developers to submit their ideas for a green redevelopment of New Orleans. Globally, there are several LEED-registered projects using green building standards in 24 countries.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
