(This is a guest post)
A home is much more than just a place to sleep; it’s where you let down your hair and express yourself. The care you take with your home inside should be reflected in how your house looks on the outside.
On the cutting-edge of technology are LEED certified buildings. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED rating system measures a building’s green practices and sustainable developments in several areas, such as innovation and design, and energy efficiency.
LEED certified buildings are far more energy efficient than traditionally built buildings, which leads to lower utility bills. There are also fairly substantial tax breaks associated with using Energy Star rated building materials and appliances, so that’s an extra incentive to go green. These buildings also use design features such as windows, open spaces and the basic orientation of the building to create a more environmentally-friendly home. It is a proven fact that indoor air quality and well-lit and open living areas lead to greater comfort and feelings of happiness among homeowners. Not only are you helping the environment; you’re helping yourself to stay healthy!
The Evolo condominium community on Nun’s Island in Montreal is one such example of how LEED building design is moving to the forefront of modern construction. Whole communities are growing with green design tenets in mind, creating entire urban zones with a reduced ecological footprint. While LEED certified buildings are still mostly found in commercial sites, its practices are being applied in residential areas as people and governments on multiple levels are seeing the benefits of green building. Besides the energy savings, LEED buildings reduce storm water runoff and increase groundwater recharge, an emergent issue for many communities. They also feature lower overall maintenance costs, such as landscaping and parking spaces.
Green buildings do have a higher upfront cost, as these newer building materials are generally more expensive than traditional materials. However, this cost difference is made up over time through energy savings and tax incentives and rebates. When you figure in the added human value of health and happiness, it just makes sense to opt in for a green building.
With climate change and global warming in the headlines, green building may become the standard for construction in the near future. As LEED guidelines center on the approach that there is no cookie-cutter, “one-size-fits-all” solution for green building, each building is unique to its environment, designed specifically for its locale’s features and needs. At the end of the day, sustainable construction is something to come home to and feel proud about!