Green Building and Energy Effecicent Home Construction
"While the environmental and human health benefits of green building have been widely recognized, this comprehensive report confirms that minimal increases in upfront costs of 0-2% to support green design will result in life cycle savings of 20% of total construction costs -- more than ten times the initial investment. In other words, an initial upfront investment of up to $100,000 to incorporate green building features into a $5 million project would result in a savings of $1 million in today's dollars over the life of the building."
- Aileen Adams, Secretary of State and Consumer Affairs for California
About our Green Building
At Dynan Construction Management Inc. we are committed to environmentally sensitive design and construction as a long-term business philosophy. We all live here on "spaceship earth" and it is our responsibility to protect and nurture our precious natural resources. As members of the U.S. Green Building Council and supporters of the Florida Green Building Coalition, we are strong proponents of "green" building.
What do we mean by Green Building
A green building is a building that has been constructed or renovated to incorporate design techniques, technologies and materials that have less dependency on fossil fuels and minimize the building's overall negative environmental impact. The reduced impact would include minimal site disruption and fewer pollutants released during construction and occupation. Green buildings can include homes, offices, schools, churches, hospitals, museums and other buildings.
Building such facilities requires expertise and a high degree of sophistication in the complex arena of the technologies and methodologies available. To serve our clients we are becoming a LEED Accredited Professional to advise clients and manage "green" building projects.
The term "high-performance building" is often used when referring specifically to the energy efficiency and productivity benefits of a building, whereas "green building" refers to the broader environmental considerations of a building, including the high-performance aspects. "Green building" is used to describe a building with minimal site disruption that is energy-water-and resource efficient and has good indoor air quality, natural lighting and acoustics, as well as other benefits.
One of the greatest benefits of a green building is its reduced use of electricity and energy which can help reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Approximately one-third of all energy consumed in the U.S. is for heating, cooling, lighting and for the appliances in a building. With the increased use of green building practices a significant reduction in the use of energy consumption.
Due to the use of lower-toxicity materials in green buildings, occupants enjoy healthier indoor environments and higher productivity levels.
Green buildings achieve the best results when they are developed through an integrated design and construction process that ideally begins in the pre-design phase when project goals are set. In this approach, all members of the building team are engaged in the green building elements of the project and can make the most appropriate design and construction decisions at the most cost-effective stage of the process.
For your green building needs, or just to acquire information, call us here at Dynan Construction Management Inc. We are always happy to help in promoting a healthy environment, financial savings and social responsibility. Green building is the construction standard for the future and the smart solution for today.
Conventional Construction vs. Green Building and Construction
There are essentially two types of home construction available today:
- Conventional Construction consists of the industry standard designs, technologies, and materials responsible for an enormous amount of energy waste and environmental degradation, as well as poor indoor air quality within the home.
- Green Building is an alternative based on fundamental principles of energy efficiency and natural resource conservation. Green Building utilizes emerging technologies and materials to increase the quality and longevity of the structure, without compromising the welfare of the environment. Green Building puts a premium on maintaining a toxin-free indoor atmosphere.
Amidst the rising cost of energy and the consequences of global warming, the home building industry is starting to make the transition to a more energy efficient, environmentally sustainable approach to building houses. This transition is well established within the home building industry in many western states.
Unfortunately, the status quo is firmly entrenched in most other parts of the country, and there are still only a small percentage of architects, contractors, builders, and trade professionals who have thoroughly studied and are committed to the Green Building process.
Therefore, if you are not well educated in Green Building, you may well end up with a house that exhibits poor energy efficiency, excessive natural resource consumption, and less than optimal indoor air quality.
What Does Green Building Look Like?
Green Building does not necessarily look different from a conventionally designed and constructed house. In fact, aesthetically, a house that is built "green" can take the appearance of just about any architectural style. However, there are two main differences between Green Building and conventional construction:
- How the design and function of the house relates to its natural surroundings, such as sunlight and temperature.
- How the components of a house work together to function as a system.
These two Green Building elements can combine to transform an ordinary house into an Ultra- Energy Efficient, Environmentally Friendly, Healthy Home.
THE COMPONENTS OF GREEN BUILDING
For today's home owner, the sensible choice is to build green. However, the rapid growth of the Green Building industry has led to a confusing myriad of design, technology, and building material choices that increase energy efficiency, are environmentally friendly, and improve indoor air quality. Some of these include the following:
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