How to Make Your Home or Business Green Energy Certified
 Numerous sources abound for Green Energy certification, and the requirements that must be met in order to receive one for your home or business vary slightly from organization to organization. All of them, however, carry some commonalities.
What is a Green Home or Business? |
A simple definition of a green building is one that:
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Is cost efficient |
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Promotes health |
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Minimizes the consumption of natural resources in water and energy usage |
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Protects and supports the natural environment |
New or Existing Buildings |
Green building certification programs are now available for existing homes and businesses as well as newly built ones. Whereas it used to be considered cost-prohibitive to renovate an existing building to meet green certification criteria, more and more organizations are making it easier and easier for people to get into green homes and businesses without having to buy (or build) new.
The Basic Requirements for Green Building Certification |
Certified green homes and businesses generally share all or most of the following characteristics:
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Use of construction practices that promote recycling and minimize waste |
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Renewable building components (such as wheatboard cabinets and bamboo or cork flooring) |
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Recycled materials (such as countertops made of recycled materials and tiles made of recycled glass) |
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Non-toxic finishes for the interior (such as low VOC sealants, paints, and carpets) |
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Optimal window placement to maximize ambient light and ventilation |
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Energy-efficient appliances (such as Energy Star refrigerators, dishwashers, and water heaters) |
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Water-efficient landscape irrigation and appliances (such as moisture-sensitive irrigating systems and front-loading washers) |
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Intelligent and adequate insulation |
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Rain-water collection |
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Deliberate shade tree placement |
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Photovoltaic panels for solar power and heat |
Benefit from Green Builders |
Fortunately for the conscientious home or business owner, you don't have to build or renovate a green building alone. For each of the various green certification programs available, you'll find several builders and contractors experienced in meeting the requisite qualifications to get your green building constructed and certified. All you usually need to do to find such builders is to visit the website for the green building certification program you'd like to apply for and search through the list they provide of compliant contractors and builders.
Case Study in Green Home Certification: LEED |
LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. The LEED rating system has become widely recognized as the national benchmark in the design, construction, renovation, and operation of green buildings that work.
LEED certification signifies that a project has undergone rigorous third-party evaluation to verify not only that it is environmentally responsible, but that it is an economically efficient project as well as a healthy building in which to live or work.
Architects, contractors, and builders can all be professionally accredited by LEED as well, providing homeowners an easy reference for identifying who to hire in the construction or renovation of their green home.
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