One of the biggest questions/objections to Green Building I hear is that it is "TOO EXPENSIVE".
I believe this is a myth and in this series I would like to debunk the myth and ask instead....
"Can You Afford NOT to Go Green?"
Green Building is taking a hold all over the country. Just read some of the articles from the fabulous writers in the ECO-All-Stars Group and you will get a taste of what is going on in the residential market in the US.
Over the next 5 - 10 years Green / Sustainable building will continue gain ground in the mainstream residential market as it has done throughout the past several years in the commercial market.
I predict it won't be so "unusual" some day and will actually become the "norm" or the "standard" by which all residences are built.
In recent years more and more companies are adopting green practices and taking extra steps to certify their projects to LEED standards. LEED certification is a nationally accepted benchmark for high performance buildings developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
Building to LEED standards has become an integral part of commercial development because of the many benefits.
There are several benefits the companies and their employees are realizing as the result of "greening" their buildings. These benefits were not necesarily in the original "concept"
- Decreased overhead costs
- Increase in employee productivity
- Less Absenteeism
- Employee have greater affinity for their company which results in less employee turnover
Schools that have built to LEED standards are reporting increases in student test scores and less disruptive behavior following the implementation of a healthier environment.
In addition to spending a lot of our time at work and/or school, most of us spend a good portion of our time in our homes; quite possibly the greatest part of our day.
Considering that a great portion of our time is spent in our homes.....
What effect will building green have on our residences? our livelihood? and our finances?
Stay tuned for Part II of "Can You Afford NOT to go Green?" as I develop this idea further.
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How long do we have to wait for part II? My solar powered laptop and organic energy drink are both running on E at this time of night...:)
Ive been a firm believer in simple practices such as ground source heat pumps and telecommuting for work. (blatant plug warning) FloorPlanOnline decreases the amount of fuel consumed by agents and home buyers by providing important housing details on-line to better inform buyers about homes prior to driving all over town looking for a good fit.