Jul
05
2009
Is actually isn’t easy being green, validating the theme of a certain puppet frog …
In fact, while any builder can claim their building is “green” just by including some recycled materials, there are certain standards and awards that designers, architects, and builders can strive for. If you’re truly aiming to live in a green building, look for those with LEED approval.
LEED is the gold standard for green––its acronym stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A LEED certification comes from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which is an alliance of leaders––10,000 international membership organizations––from every aspect of the building industry who first gathered in the late 1990s to come up with a rating system for “green” buildings. Builders can build to the high standards set up by the USGBC and ensure their buildings perform holistically to meet the environmental sustainability goals. An accreditation exam, given by USGBC, allows individuals to rate buildings that wish to receive a LEED certification. While Seattle Condos were experiencing a building boom, they jumped onto the green bandwagon early on. Within the past decade the city mandated builders to meet LEED sustainability ratings for buildings over 5,000 square feet, giving financial bonuses for meeting standard. The result today is that we can boast the highest concentration of LEED-certified sustainable buildings in the country, as well a $670 million sustainable building industry. Yet another reason why we love Seattle!
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Tags: Green Buildings, New Construction
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