Reporting on Sustainably Built Environments from Bricks to Cities
There are many factors that contribute to greening a building. Of these, energy is an extremely important part of the equation. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) recognized this fact when they named their green building program LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Energy costs can be a surprisingly large part of the cost of owning and operating a building.
How reasonable is it to try to generate your own power? You want to take that big, green step, but there are a lot of unknowns. Is it hard to do? Does it take a lot of equipment? Will the systems last? What is the best system to use for your location?
I can't give you simple, easy answers to most of these questions, since there are too many factors, and it's not a one-size-fits-all kind of question. However, there is one question I can answer: Is it worth considering a renewable generating system? The answer to that is 'yes.'
Editor's note: Philip Proefrock, another new writer at Green Options, will be covering the exciting world of green building and architecture for us. We're happy to welcome Philip on board!
At some point in this decade, human history reached a unique milestone. For the first time, more than half of the world's population (and more than 80% of that in the United States) now lives in cities. We are an increasingly urbanized species, and our buildings are a huge part of the impact we have on the environment.
In the United States, it has been noted that buildings are responsible for nearly half of all energy consumption. More than manufacturing or transportation, buildings have the greatest impact on energy use. Consequently, buildings offer the greatest opportunities for improving performance and reducing energy use.
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