These days, one of the most effective and trending ways to go green is to not only look at how we live, but also where we live, and to take those practices, products and policies into our houses. Whether we are making green updates to a treasured home, or building a new eco-friendly house, let’s take a look at how green building impacts our wallets. You don’t need to live in a smart house to be green. There are a lot of other sustainable living ideas to try.

Green Building Certifications

There are many certification programs available for green building that notably increase the value of your property, and often lead to other incentives such as tax breaks and grants. Green certified buildings often even receive discounts on homeowner’s insurance. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) issued by U.S. Green Buildings Council, is probably the most easily recognized sustainable building certification, as more than 1.6 million residential units are currently participating in LEED around the world. Other popular certifications include Energy Star, BREEAM, and Green Globes. Prospective buildings undergo a thorough third-party verification process, including an onsite inspection and performance testing. Successfully certified homes deliver on design plans and meet green building commitments that save energy, water and other resources. But do they save money? By using less energy, green homes also lower utility bills. On average, LEED certified homes save 30% of water and 15-20% of energy, which averages out to about $70 per month in utility bill savings. While the typical cost of an entry level LEED home is about 3 to 5 percent higher than a conventional home, that additional cost is canceled out by utility savings, making a LEED certified home with all of its benefits- from cleaner indoor air quality for the family, to a lower carbon footprint for the planet- comparable in cost to a traditional home meeting minimum building code.

Tax Breaks

We talked about a number of financial benefits of green buildings for both consumers and businesses in the past. One benefit is tax breaks.

Like certifications, there are many available tax breaks, grants, and other financial incentives for green construction, helping many families to make the commitment to saving the planet. Federal, state, and local governments want your home to be more efficient and earth-friendly, and surprisingly, so do many utility companies. From solar to wind, geothermal to fuel cell energies, the tax breaks being offered can make a huge impact on their cost for either new or existing projects, offering up to up to 26% of the installation and equipment as a tax credit. Not to mention all of the state, local and utility deals. For example, Pacific Gas and Electric, a leading California utility company, offers utility bill rebates of up to $120 to customers who purchase efficient appliances and equipment. The building of eco homes is on the rise with thanks going to these tax breaks and money saving incentives. Keep in mind these tax breaks are set through December 31, 2021, when they will be reevaluated.

Uncertified Updates

On the more affordable end for the homeowner who wants to make sustainable upgrades without the commitment of a certificate or a new build, there are tons of options. There are simple best practices that are cost effective and low effort, like sealing windows and other air leaks (90 inches of weather strips costing about $12), taking shorter showers, turning lights off or switching to LED bulbs (8 pack for about $10), and using pressure cookers (ranging from $50-$250) rather than the energy intensive ovens. There are more long-term investments such as installing energy efficient windows or doors (lowering energy bills by 12% on average), installing a whole house fan (saving 90% in cooling energy costs on average), or upgrading kitchen appliances (qualifying for tax breaks plus potential energy bill savings of over $100 per year).

Final Thoughts

It is very clear that energy saving, means energy bill saving. If a family is able to front the cash to make the upgrades or commitments to a sustainable lifestyle, the numbers say they will save money in the long run. Luckily, we don’t have to choose between saving a buck or saving the planet, with options for every person on every budget. Not only that, but government financial incentives make it easier than ever to make the switch to a green lifestyle. It is heartening to know that energy companies, insurance companies, local and federal governments all are on the same page about saving the planet, and want to create the easiest, most accessible path for homeowners to get on board, too.

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What is green building?

Green building ultimately translates to the important efforts of construction of which companies use the most environmentally safe products and practices where possible. Green builders are trained experts in designing green homes in the most environmentally friendly way possible. This method of building has seen a spike in interest given the growing concern for the environment. More and more people are interested in what sort of benefits green building can offer them. In the next section, we’ll discuss why it’s so important and how it can benefit you.

The significance and benefits of green building

This method of building helps to decrease the environmental impact of development and minimize energy usage – brilliant for lowering pollution. Their efforts help to produce a home or office building that creates the smallest environmental impact possible, conserves water and energy, and saves you money in the long run.

When all efforts are made to construct a truly green building, your office or home requires less energy to function properly. If you choose to install solar panels, you can not only save money and use the cleanest energy available, but also, after a period of time using it, you can sell energy back to the utility company, saving you even more money. The benefits to green building go far beyond just the environmental impact.

So how effective are green buildings? Here are some of the primary benefits that organizations should be aware of:

• Environmentally friendly businesses can reduce energy consumption by 25% or more. The exact efficiency depends on a variety of factors, including the climate, type of energy efficient amenities that were added (such as Energy Star appliances) and the experience of the green contractor. The ROI from saving energy will be higher as energy prices continue to rise in the near future, even if green buildings don’t become more energy efficient.
• Reducing pollution can significantly reduce the risks of being cited for environmental regulations. This can be a greater benefit as the EPA and municipalities start cracking down on companies that leave a larger environmental footprint. Some experts estimate that green businesses can reduce pollution by 20% or more.
• Green buildings will make it easier for companies to operate sustainably as oil, coal and other natural resources are depleted.

The benefits are becoming more pronounced as green building designs improve. The National Institute of Building Sciences reports that green buildings have become far more sophisticated in recent years, so the energy saving benefits are much higher as well.

Why is green building gaining momentum?

Green building is an innovative new method of building that encourages efforts being made to be as environmentally friendly as possible in the construction process. This increases its ratings amongst the many people with a growing concern for the environment. It’s gaining momentum because it’s both financially and environmentally beneficial (especially in the long-term). The changes to greener practices and products are easy to make and relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to how much money could be saved once the building is up and running. It can be fairly lucrative to switch to green living, which surprises many, and of course, it is good for the environment.

Green building is a new innovative way to construct homes that minimizes the environmental impact. This method of construction can help minimize your environmental footprint, conserve energy and water, and save you money. The importance of this new method of construction has definitely gained momentum as clearly shown by the increased demand and interest in green construction.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you will  be ready to consider your options when it comes to the prospect of building a property.

The post Reasons Why the Importance of Green Building is Gaining Momentum appeared first on Green Building Insider.

A common misconception about SBS, though, is that it only arises from older buildings. According to the World Health Organization, up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide are potential carriers of SBS. Today, many organizations have led a green building movement designed to help combat SBS. First, however, it is crucial to describe what SBS is and the factors that cause it.

What Is SBS?

Sick building syndrome is when a building’s occupants experience negative health effects when they spend time in that building. The most common symptoms of SBS include headaches, coughing, sleepiness, sore throat, dry eyes, dizziness and itchy skin.

Workers who spend eight hours a day in buildings that are not adequately maintained often report such symptoms. SBS symptoms commonly appear when workers return to the office after an extended break. To be able to combat sick building syndrome, it is vital to identify the factors that cause it.

Factors That Contribute to SBS

There are several factors that can contribute to SBS, such as the following.

1. Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major contributing factor to SBS. Indoor air quality refers to the standard of the conditioned air that circulates throughout buildings, and indoor air is the air we breathe throughout most of our lives. The EPA estimates that Americans, on average, spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors.

Inadequate ventilation can lower the IAQ of a building and lead to SBS. Buildings that have inadequate HVAC systems may not distribute air effectively to building occupants. Office buildings should provide a range of between 15 and 60 cfm of outdoor air per person to properly ventilate the space and maintain a comfortable environment for workers. This level of ventilation combats the buildup of carbon dioxide, which results from building occupants.

2. Chemical Contaminants From Inside the Building

Even if ventilation systems are cycling the recommended amount of air to building occupants, indoor air pollution may still be contributing to SBS. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, can cause acute health effects in those exposed to such chemicals regularly. Many everyday office items release VOCs, such as formaldehyde, through a process known as off-gassing. These office items include:

• Copy machines (toner)
• Cleaning products
• Carpeting
• Manufactured wood products

3. Outside Pollution

Along with inside sources of pollution, many harmful outside sources can impact the air quality of a building. If air intake vents are not placed in the correct location, outdoor pollutants such as exhaust can permeate throughout the building. Windows that are not properly sealed can also be entrance points for such harmful sources of pollution.

One incredibly harmful source of outside pollution is silica. Silica is a common mineral found in the earth’s crust. However, when it is pulverized, its particles become 100 times finer than a grain of sand. Respirable crystalline silica is created through activities such as construction and masonry. This airborne form of silica is toxic to humans and can cause silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease.

If offices or homes are located next to construction sites, such dangerous particles could diffuse through the building through air intake vents or unsealed windows. To protect building occupants from outside sources of pollution, routine checks should be completed to ensure the building is properly sealed, and HVAC systems are maintained.

Negative Impact of SBS on the Office Environment

Sick building syndrome has the potential to lead to severe monetary losses for companies. Workers experiencing symptoms of SBS have been proven to be less productive and have higher rates of absenteeism than healthy employees.

Studies have shown that productivity losses of two percent result from the presence of such symptoms. This loss of productivity equates to an annual loss of around $60 billion per year. Higher health-care insurance costs can also be attributed to SBS. To prevent injuries from SBS, intelligent businesses have taken a green approach both to building and renovating their facilities.

Ways to Make Your Building Greener

The green building movement has offered a path forward for companies to prevent their employees from experiencing SBS symptoms. Several different green measures should be employed to ensure a building’s condition does not negatively impact the health of occupants. Here are just a few ways you can make your building greener.

1. Increase Ventilation Rates

Increasing ventilation rates is one approach to improving the work environment, and installing operable windows is one way to accomplish this. Operable windows allow occupants to open windows so that outside air can be filtered within the building. To save energy, operable windows can be fitted with a switch to ensure HVAC systems turn off in that specific zone so as not to waste energy when the window is open. If operable windows are not integrated into the HVAC system, energy usage can rise as much as 30 percent. Increasing ventilation rates also helps to prevent carbon dioxide buildup.

If you’re worried about the cost of extra ventilation methods, studies have shown that revenue produced by higher productivity can offset the costs associated with increased ventilation.

2. Use Low-VOC Emitting Materials

VOCs are a leading cause of SBS. Companies must make a concerted effort to avoid artificial building materials that emit high levels of VOCs. Using more sustainable products, such as green cleaners, helps to ensure that IAQ remains high. Although the initial cost of low-VOC items may be higher, it has been shown that gains achieved from creating a more comfortable work environment offset these costs.

3. Incorporate Interior Landscaping

A simple yet effective approach to improving conditions inside the building is to grow plants. Plants can improve IAQ levels and filter out carbon dioxide. Additionally, plants such as dracaena, help remove VOCs from the air. Interior landscaping can also reduce stress among employees.

4. Become LEED Certified

A certification known as Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) was created to help organizations implement impactful green building solutions. The U.S. Green Building Council sponsors the LEED Certification and offers resources for companies on how to construct green buildings.

Scorecards are also provided to companies to grade their progress on meeting LEED standards.  Different grades are issued based on a company’s selected methods. An accreditation from LEED signals that companies are taking a stand to work toward a more sustainable future.

Go Green and Help Your Employees Thrive

By employing green building strategies, companies can help mitigate the costs associated with sick building syndrome. Additionally, when you put these green methods to use in your building, you can create a healthy place for your employees to work and thrive.

The post How Greener Buildings Can Reduce Sick Building Syndrome appeared first on Green Building Insider.

Here are some of the benefits you might not know about:

Cost Savings

An aspect of green building that you may not have considered is the financial benefit. While the up-front costs of building green are often greater than the standard non-sustainable materials, the long-term benefits far outweigh these costs.

For example, LEED-certified buildings can cut utility costs by around 25 percent, while lessening water usage in green building is lessened by 11 percent. With these savings, you will have already recouped any additional building costs over time. The addition of energy-efficient windows is said to have a return on their investment by over 20 percent. On top of that, there are tax incentives for those who are building green, making this commitment to green construction even more of a no brainer.

Furthermore, likely the best financial reason to invest in green building is market demand. Green projects up the value of your property, and those looking to buy are often consciously seeking homes and offices that follow environmental standards. If you ever want to sell your property, green certification will be a compelling selling point, certainly, but moreover, conscientious buyers are turned off by properties that have not considered sustainability in their construction.

Human Benefits

You may have considered these financial rewards of green energy, but perhaps a set of benefits that you did not anticipate is that green building has an immediate positive impact on the physical and emotional health of residents.

Lowered Stress

Imagine if something about the place you live could improve your marriage, or make family time better. Research has shown that living in a green building lowers stress level. Building features such as more ambient light or improved indoor air quality can lead to a reduction in seasonal depression and a boost in mood and morale.

Decision-Making Skill

Once you’ve already made the choice to build green, you might not know that this decision might allow you to make more decisions. A Harvard School of Health study showed that those that resided in a green building had an over 40% better track record when it came to making good decisions. If you’re working from your green home or working in a LEED building, you can experience better productivity as well.

Research demonstrates that those working in green environments are over 15% more productive. In addition, a COGfx study found that people who worked in greener spaces were 130% better at planning and strategizing during a crisis. With that in mind, your green home may just improve your ability to act under pressure.

Improved Health

If you live in an urban area, you might not imagine that the inside of your house can be more polluted than the outdoors, filled with car exhaust and factory smoke. However, studies show that poor indoor air quality causes all kinds of sickness. There’s even a condition called Sick Building syndrome which shows that when an area is not well ventilated it can easily become riddled with contaminants. Green buildings can improve airflow and air quality, reducing sick building syndrome by 30 percent.

Better Perceptions

In addition to creating calm and being good for your health outcomes, green buildings have been shown to have a positive effect when it comes to an emotional connection to the place where people reside.

One piece of research showed that people were over 15% more likely to feel a general sense of well-being, in addition to being more cheerful and happier to associate themselves with their surroundings. This led also to a sense of pride in their environment, and a desire to stay and share with others, which translates to a better home and workplace environment.

There are so many reasons to go green when building a home, but the one that might be most compelling is the direct emotional and physical effect on occupants of the building. Green initiatives will not only allow you to contribute to the environment and put money back into your pocket but also lead to improved well-being and state of mind. And you certainly can’t put a price tag on that.

For even more psychology and physiological benefits, check out the infographic from BigRentz. It shows 18 ways spaces green-compliant spaces improve the lives of those that inhabit them, which can be applied to workplaces, commercial buildings, and residential properties.

The post Sustainable Buildings Provide Multi-faceted Benefits to Business Owners appeared first on Green Building Insider.

It can reduce the environmental impact of development

Are you concerned about reducing your carbon footprint? You should be, because global carbon emissions have skyrocketed over the past 30 years.

Buildings play a very significant role in our carbon footprint. Nearly 70% of the global carbon footprint is caused by fossil fuels. A large portion of fossil fuel consumption is caused by heating buildings.

If every building was made green, the global carbon footprint could be reduced by 15-20% every year. This would play a crucial role in reversing the implications of climate change.

LEED buildings themselves are particularly effective at reducing climate change. The United States Green Building Council provides a succinct overview of the topic:

“One of the goals that guided the development of LEED v4 was reversing a LEED building’s contribution to global climate change. High-performing green buildings, particularly LEED-certified buildings, play a key role in reducing the negative climate impacts of the built environment. For this reason, 35 of the 100 total points in LEED v4 are distributed to reward climate change mitigation strategies. The LEED process addresses a structure’s planning, design, construction, operations and end of life as well as considering energy, water, indoor environmental quality, materials selection and location. Green buildings reduce landfill waste, enable alternative transportation use and encourage retention and creation of vegetated land areas and roofs.”

Development and growth of communities have been a huge cause of pollution in the past and green builders are trying to change that. These green buildings are designed to use less materials, use recycled materials when possible, and use only environmentally friendly and clean building practices. Throughout the building process, construction companies that specialize in green building can lower the environmental impact that development has caused in the past.

It maximizes energy and water efficiency

The designs for green homes are created with energy and water conservation and efficiency in mind. They utilize natural lighting, open rooms, and other unique features to allow for maximum energy efficiency. They use Energy Star rated windows and appliances, insuring efficiency with energy and water. Energy Star rated appliances are designed to use the least amount of water or energy possible to get the job done effectively. All of these efforts work to lower your environmental footprint and can even save you money.

It minimizes waste

From construction practices to the design of the home, green builders focus on minimizing waste and optimizing efficiency. They create their designs to use the minimum amount of materials possible to remove potential waste, utilize energy efficient designs and appliances to reduce the risk of waste, and unique additional features minimizing the risk of waste, making it all that much more environmentally friendly. Decreasing waste is one of the biggest environmental problems we face today.

It can save you a considerable amount of money

This house is designed to conserve the maximum amount of energy possible. It’s not a surprise that conserving energy and water and reducing the waste of these resources will save you money. If you install solar panels on the roof of your building or home, you can even have the utility company pay you for the energy your solar supplies.

Green building is sweeping the world by storm. It can help you save money, improve your overall quality of life and health, and can reduce your environmental impact. There are many benefits to choosing this construction method for the building of your new home, a few of which we covered above. Overall, the benefits of going with a construction company that utilizes green building practices outweigh all other factors. You can make a solid investment in the future by doing your part to ensure the sustainability of the earth for future generations.

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