| Intelligent and responsible living means we are open | | | | bring operating costs down. |
| to new ideas and are constantly trying to improve. | | | | Improved Occupants' Health |
| This is especially true as we rework our ways of | | | | Most of have heard the term "sick buildings", but it is |
| doing things to become greener and more | | | | usually the occupants that suffer more than the |
| environmentally responsible. | | | | building. The rise in asthma and other respiratory |
| Most people are aware of the dangers that older | | | | illnesses has been linked to buildings that have |
| buildings can hold. There are the hazards of lead paint | | | | hazardous materials such as asbestos and mold. LEED |
| and asbestos. Fortunately, today's building | | | | buildings are built with low emitting materials that are |
| professionals are creating healthy buildings using | | | | sustainable and healthier for occupants. They are also |
| sustainable design and construction. The US Green | | | | monitored for environmental tobacco smoke control, |
| Building Council (USGBC) created a rating system, | | | | outdoor air delivery, and increased ventilation. |
| LEED, to help identify green and sustainable building | | | | In addition to air quality, green buildings have better |
| practices. This system identifies the important | | | | views and more daylight, as these have been shown |
| components of healthy building and strives to | | | | to increase productivity and reduce stress. And |
| improve the conditions in the areas most vital for | | | | buildings are also rated for their acoustical |
| sustainable living. | | | | performance and thermal control, making the buildings |
| The benefits for incorporating LEED policies include:o | | | | more comfortable and enjoyable to be in. |
| Reducing operating costso Improved occupants' | | | | Reducing Impact on the Environment |
| healtho Reducing impact on the environment | | | | While in the past buildings may have been erected |
| Reducing Operating Costs | | | | without much though to their environmental impact, |
| According to USGBC research, in the US, buildings | | | | we now realize the importance of protecting our |
| account for 72% of electricity use and 39% of | | | | environment by reducing our impact. One important |
| energy use. Green buildings that reduce those | | | | way this is done is by intelligently designing the |
| numbers will see a reduction in operating costs. Some | | | | building in regards to water use. Storm water runoff |
| actions that can be taken are designing buildings to | | | | is a serious problem as it can keep water from |
| take advantage of renewable resources such as | | | | returning to its natural underground basin, and it can |
| sunlight. | | | | carry manmade pollutants. Buildings and parking lots |
| Buildings can be designed to use the sun passively, as | | | | prevent water returning to the basins so sustainable |
| in natural room lighting and heating, and can also be | | | | designs correct this problem, reserving water and |
| used for solar water heating. The sun can be used | | | | reducing pollution. |
| actively in electric-mechanical equipment such as | | | | There are many steps needed to sustainably design |
| pumps and fans to increase heat in a building. Buildings | | | | and construct buildings, and the LEED system not |
| can also use solar panels for energy. Solar power has | | | | only points the way but helps us learn all the benefits |
| not been used to its full potential, and using it can | | | | we can gain with greener buildings. |