Green Building

Green Building is a building approach that considers how the construction, products, and life of a building will affect the overall environment. The goal of Green Building is to lessen our footprint on the earth. If we examine how each component of a building, its construction, the land it resides on, and its long-term use affects the earth, it is clear what the largest impacts are.

Over the life of the building it will be the energy consumption (for heating and cooling as well as water and other building energy uses) that will have the biggest effect on the planet.

The first rule of Green Building is to KEEP IT SMALL AND SIMPLE. The easiest and best way to limit the impact of any building is to make it as small as possible. This reduces materials required to build it and the energy required to heat and cool it. It also helps to keep the costs down for both construction and operation of the building.

The embodied energy of a product or process is important in the decision making and building process. Embodied energy is an accounting methodology which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary to produce a material or product (from  raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, assembly, and installation to disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition. As it relates to Green Building, we want to choose products that have the lowest embodied energy possible.

Hundreds of Green Building certification programs are being used throughout the US and the world. The basics of each program are similar with each program focusing in specific areas. In the residential Green Building sector the main areas of focus are as follows:

1. Energy Efficiency
2. Water Efficiency
3. Materials and Resource use
4. Indoor Environmental Quality
5. Education
6. Sustainable Site Development

Through the abovementioned subsections, individuals can be guided to consider how each decision in the building process will affect the environment. But Green Building programs are  not the only way to build green. Thousands of buildings have been built with no list or guidelines to follow, however their footprint on the earth is minimal and often time less than some of the certified buildings. The single factor most affecting how green the building will be is the motivation of the building owner. If the owner has a true commitment to environmental stewardship, then the building will be constructed and used in a way that respects the earth. Employing a team of individuals who are equally committed to environmental stewardship will make the process much easier and the product much better than hiring an uncommitted team.

FAQ’s

How do I start a Green Building?

• Whether it is a new building or upgrading an existing building, it is important to assemble a team that is committed and experienced in green building
• This initial team should consist of the owner, a Green Building professional (such as Energetechs), a designer (or architect), and a Builder.
• Once the team is assembled and goals realized the process towards a green building can begin.

What Green Building Services does Energetechs provide?

Energetechs offers many services related to existing buildings and the construction of new green buildings.

Existing Buildings:

• • Site inspections and energy audits to investigate the current conditions of the building and determine the goals of the owners relating to green building and energy conservation.
  • Once we understand the conditions and goals, we can help develop priorities, a plan and a budget to guide the process.
  • The earlier in the process we can be involved the better. We can help customers realize their Green Building goals and stay within the given budget. We offer plan review, energy modeling and green building certification.
  • We also offer design services for green building, site management, building commissioning for performance and post construction monitoring to insure the building is operating as designed.
  • Energetechs can help you from beginning to end of the Green Building process.
  • From general advice and training in Green Building;
  • to helping with selecting a suitable site for a Green Building; helping select the Green Building Design Team;
  • helping the team design the greenest and most energy efficient building that we can while keeping within the budget and other goals;
  • reviewing plans and advising on the best materials, systems, and techniques;
  • consulting during the construction process to ensure that the building is built correctly according to the plans;
  • and testing the completed building to ensure that it is performing as it should;
  • helping to monitor the performance of the building over time.

• New Buildings:

  CONTACT US – Energetechs, Inc., – ph.