Search This Blog

Monday, February 27, 2012

Green Buildings and the LEED Consulting

Green building is one method for helping the environment and saving the planet's natural resources. The purpose of green design and construction is to achieve sustainability. The ways to do this is through energy efficiency, water savings and building materials selection. LEED consulting uses expert knowledge about green design to help create eco-friendly and healthy environments for the home, office and schools..
What Does Green Building Really Mean?
There are various aspects to sustainable building. Some builders now use recycled building materials. When buildings are torn down, instead of using a bulldozer to destroy everything, companies deconstruct the building. This means that experts carefully break down the building so that most of its materials can be used again. Fixtures, piping, cables, writing and anything in the building that is salvageable is separated and used in new construction.
Other aspects of green construction include using solar panels or wind turbines for the building. Solar panels are an effective way to use the sunlight to generate energy for a structure. Some building structures use wind to generate energy. Insulation of the walls with foam cuts down on heating costs in the winter. Plumbing innovations such as motion sensor sinks or low flushing toilets help to reduce water usage. Energy efficient home appliances and office equipment also help to save energy.
LEED Consulting
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a rating system for residential and commercial buildings. LEED consultants verify that a house, apartment complex, office building, school or industrial structure meets the requirements for LEED certification. While LEED is not legally required yet, the designation lets people know that the builders and owners care about the environments.
LEED consulting is a way for new construction and old buildings to become more sustainable by adding solar panels, energy efficient equipment or other methods of sustainability. Experts examine a new building and measure the amount of energy it saves. The LLED experts also offer suggestion on how to make a space for energy efficient or sustainable. The buildings with the highest levels of energy and water savings, and sustainability features receive the highest rating. The LEED established a detailed list of guidelines that must be met before a building can be certified as LEED.