WHY BUILD GREEN?

Green Building puts the focus on what humans are hardwired for: fresh air, daylight, comfort, and to be in sync with the natural world; while also accessing state of the art systems, products and technologies. LCC (lifecycle cost) and LCA (life-cycle assessment) are given priority.

 

USGBC-Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

 

U.S. Green Building Council

 

EPA/Green Building

Florida LEED Homes Provider

 

DOE/Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy

Green Guide for Health Care

E3 Green Building-LEED for Homes Provider

 

National Home Builders

 

Energy Star

 

Florida Green Building Coalition

 

GREEN MAXIMIZES: Finances, tax credits, market value of home, disaster protection, homeland security via renewable energy, support of local businesses, smart design, and quality results

GREEN MINIMIZES: Energy use by 20-50%, water use by 30-50%, storm water run-off, pesticide and toxic chemical use; resource and construction waste; human and environmental disease

Best Practices:

• Certify your building under USGBC LEED certification

• Build in accordance with climate zone and ecosystem

• Optimize site orientation and apply whole site design

• Resource and energy efficiency in design, construction and operations

• Use materials that are recycled, durable, non-toxic and rapidly renewable

• Conserve and reuse water on-site

• Treat storm water on-site

• Promote health re: indoor air quality and construction waste

• Integrate natural day lighting and ventilation

• Cost savings

Whole-Site (or Integrated) Design:  Green building practices are much more than simply adding green materials to a structure.  An important component is about using a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates just about all aspects of design of the site and the building, including the building envelope as well as an integrated landscaping plan.  The results are holistic, similar to the synchronicity and awesomeness of a musical symphony.  The parts harmonize with one another to create a beautifully intended result.  Whole-site building design works best early in the design process as the design-build team establishes a game plan for how individual materials and technologies will interact with one another for an ideal outcome.  We now have exact engineering software methods to predict superb results. Integrated design can result in "first-cost" and "long-term" cost savings and significantly increase the market value of a home. 

Examples of Whole Site Design:

• Passive solar design of a building saves up to 20% in energy use.  It saves money via downsized and less stressed HVAC systems, and through the need for less artificial lighting and fixtures. People are happy to have more access to daylight and natural ventilation.
• Strategically placed windows, a right-sized/highly efficient HVAC system, and shading with landscape and window coverings can result in first cost savings and immediate energy savings
• LRV (light reflectance value) of paint color and shading can lower heat loads dramatically
• Storm water and gray water (all water previously used in any home, excluding toilet and kitchen sink water) can be reused for landscape irrigation and toilet flushing. 

HEALTHY INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ): A MUST!!!

allergies, asthma, compromised immune systems and sick-building syndrome are concepts that are significantly reduced or non-issues in a well-designed home or building. 

• Use of devises that measure and improve air quality prior to people moving into the building 

• Significant reductions of dust and mold due to high quality HVAC systems and attention to humidity factors

• Air circulation systems that regularly allow for fresh air and ensure the protection of the already conditioned air

• Insulation and sealants in the right places, and state-of-the-art window choices; this removes and/or lessens typical air pollutants from such sources as fireplaces and furnaces, pesticides, radon, mold, dust, cleaning products, cooking, and conventional building materials

• Less off-gassing from VOCs (volatile organic compounds) by using less toxic building materials

Wendy Cooper Biography

Wendy Cooper, LEED AP, LEED for Homes Green Rater, and MSW is President of Green Home Building Pro, Inc. She is a consultant to commercial and residential developers, building teams, homeowners, and government agencies for the high-performance building of new construction, additions, and retrofits. 

She serves as LEED AP to obtain LEED certification on projects via the US Green Building Council. Prior to relocating to Florida to lead a team in the development of a green building project, she was a major contributor to the Baltimore City Green Building Task Force and the Baltimore Environmental Network of Synagogues.  As consultant to the sponsor, the US Green Building Council, she negotiated, coordinated and obtained 26 paying vendors for a green section at the annual 350-vendor event by the Home Builders Association of Maryland. 

She wrote a sustainability column for the acclaimed OPW Magazine and is co-author of the recently published book, "Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs."

She has served on several non-profit boards and was President of Earthome, Inc. that produced the world-renowned film, The Next Industrial Revolution.  She was interviewed for BBS Network Inc., a syndicated radio show, on green building in the public and private sectors and is a member of the Sarasota County Construction & Demolition Project Team.  Wendy was recently elected Co-Chair of the US Green Building Council Myakka River Branch LEED for Homes Committee. Wendy’s first career was that of group therapist,  providing her with skills to negotiate for conflict resolution and lead teams to produce results.

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

The US creates 25% of greenhouse gases worldwide, yet contains 5% of the worlds population.

The EPA says that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors and that the average indoor air is 4-10 times more polluted than outside air on the smoggiest day.

A typical new structure releases indoor air toxins for 5 years