What is Green Building? 
A Summary by Rick Alfandre, AIA, LEED AP
President, Alfandre Architecture, PC

• Sustainable Site Design and Construction
• Energy Efficiency
• The use of Renewable Energy
• Water Stewardship
• Environmentally Preferable Building Materials, such as low emitting materials, recycled or recyclable products, local or regional materials.
• Waste Reduction in construction and operations
• Indoor Environment, such as good ventilation, daylight and views
• Smart Growth planning and the enhancement of existing neighborhoods and communities.

“Green building” is environmentally responsible.  Buildings, sites, schools, neighborhoods and communities can be designed to be as sustainable as possible.  Sustainable development is development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”   Further, buildings and sites can be designed as a means to enhance ecological balance and create benefits for future generations.

Why Build Green?

Buildings are a significant contributor to global warming of the earth’s atmosphere as well as depletion of natural resources worldwide. In the US, buildings generate 30% of CO2 emissions. The construction and maintenance of buildings is responsible for 40% of US energy use and 30% of wood and raw materials use.  Good design and planning can mitigate this impact.

In the United States, buildings currently account for:

Green building will:

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Improve air and water quality.
• Reduce solid waste.
• Conserve natural resources including energy.
• Reduce building operating costs.
• Improve employee productivity, well-being, satisfaction, comfort and health by improving indoor environments
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance. 
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure.
• Contribute to overall quality of life.

High Performance Green building design and construction practices have many benefits, including: Saving energy, resources, and money

In addition to saving resources during construction, High Performance Green Buildings save money through low operation and maintenance costs. High performance buildings are healthier places to live and work. The health and safety benefits of green building are proven. Occupants of green buildings have a reduced number of communicable and respiratory illnesses, fewer allergies and less cases of asthma. The “sick building” syndrome is no longer an issue and workers compensation claims are lessened.

Do Green Buildings Cost more? Some measures may cost more.  However, in many cases green buildings are built for little or no more money. Data from studies of the 50 best buildings show that: An upfront investment of 2-4% of construction costs yields life cycle savings of over TEN times the initial investment. Energy savings alone will pay for the incremental cost increase.  Government and industry studies show that Health, Safety and Productivity benefits of the people who occupy the buildings are equivalent to 10 to 40 times the initial investment in green buildings design and construction.

Alfandre Architecture: "Creating spaces and places of lasting beauty." Buildings of timeless beauty – designed to enhance a sense of place and a sense of quality – are buildings that will endure the passage of time. Alfandre Architecture specializes in the design and construction of High Performance Green buildings. Principal architect, Rick Alfandre, AIA, is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) with the United States Green Building Council.  Alfandre Architecture offers a comprehensive range of architecture services, from initial planning concepts through completion of construction.  At Alfandre Architecture, we are specialists in, and advocates of, high performance and environmentally responsible green buildings.

Our goal and philosophy is to provide our clients with personalized service and quality design within a mutually agreed budget.   Every project, regardless of size, receives our utmost attention. Rick Alfandre strongly believes in blending all elements of sound design within the context of the surrounding environment.  We provide our clients with extraordinary solutions to practical problems.

Alfandre Architecture is committed to the design of durable buildings and sites that integrate, to the maximum extent possible, sustainable design principles, particularly the integration of energy efficiency measures.  Our projects result in beautiful buildings and spaces which promote health and are a positive long lasting contribution to their surroundings.

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