Sustainable Consulting: Green Building Techniques
In addition to LEED certification, there are many things that developers and contractors can do to promote energy efficiency and other sustainable features in their constructions. Our consulting professionals are LEED-accredited, but are also well informed on other green methods. Sustainable consulting includes advice on the costs of various green building technologies, their expected impact on the environment and how to include them in your project.
There are countless general conservation techniques that can be used when designing a building and its surrounding grounds. These techniques strive to save existing vegetation and decrease a building’s potential energy consumption. In addition to environmental benefits, these techniques can also offer budgetary pluses, as they reduce certain manufacturing and construction costs, increase the resale value of the property, and ultimately offer lower energy bills.
When looking at the seemingly high costs of adding energy-efficient elements to your projects, you may be tempted to skimp on these additions. However, when you see our detailed reports on the initial investment costs of implementing energy-efficient features compared to the long term savings on utility bills, you may change your mind! When we offer sustainable consulting advice, we like to focus on the environmental benefits of green building techniques that reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere, the cost-saving benefits of such techniques, and the costs that you will incur to implement them.
Because buildings produce close to half of our carbon output, many people restrict their thoughts of energy efficiency to carbon emissions. However, building with an eye toward water conservation is also extremely important. Every gallon of water that is saved can work to protect areas like rivers and wetlands. Using less water also means that less energy is required to clean the used water. Water conservation can be accomplished by simple techniques, such as installing efficient toilets, or more involved methods, like installing drainage systems that keep storm run-off moderately contained. We look forward to discussing green building techniques and your next project with you!