Jun 29 2009
Seattle Green Buildings – What Does that Really Mean? (Part I)
Green is the new buzzword in new Seattle condo building construction –– just in case you haven’t noticed. But what makes a building “green” and who gets to make that claim?
Basically, a building that is designed, built, or fixed up for a new purpose in a resource-efficient way can call itself green. Some builders stretch the limits of the word… they may use a few materials such as bamboo flooring and water-saving plumbing and call it good (i.e. green). Others may take the concept seriously and meet certain global objectives, including using materials that protect both the environment and the long-term health of the occupant.
To truly be a green building it all needs to start at the ground level, with the owners, the designers and the architects. The building needs to be sustainable, which means it has to reduce its overall impact on the environment. Energy use, water use, integrated systems throughout the structure are the fundamentals of green building, and what ultimately affect its surroundings.
If you’re interested in living in a green condo building, here are a few questions you can ask when shopping for your next living space:
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