What is Green Building?
Green Building is a design and construction process that promotes the economic health and well-being of your family, the community, and the enviroment. A smart step toward economic rewards, Green Building also has positive social and enviromental ramifications that assert your commitment to the future and the way we live for years to come.
What is LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) created LEED as a rating system for green building.
Green building refers to the design, construction, and operation of buildings in an environmentally friendly way. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The rating system is specific to the type of project being worked on. Some of the specific programs are LEED-New Construction, LEED-Existing Buildings, LEED-Commercial Interiors, LEED-Core and Shell, LEED-Homes, LEED-Neighborhood Development, LEED-Schools and effective this year LEED for Homes. The rating systems are broken down into points for each type of credit. Certification levels within the systems are:
Minimum points: Certified
Second highest points: Silver
Third highest points: Gold
Fourth-maximum points: Platinum
A&C has been applying LEED principles to client's projects over the past several years. Projects requiring LEED certification are overseen by A&C company partner Mr. Brian A. Jones, AIA. Brian has been designing residfential and commerical projects in accordance with LEED principles for a number of years. Primarily due to recent economic changes in the marketplace and renewed interest in energy efficiency and the environment, Brian pursued and received his LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2007. Prior to this past year little incentives existed to warranted project owners to expend the additional fees and construction costs to seek certification. Mr. Jones is among a handful of LEED-accredited professionals in the north country and one of the program's most vocal proponents.
