www.buildgreenconf.org http://www.buildgreenconf.org Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Greenest Condos in Manhattan http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2012/02/15/greenest-condos-in-manhattan/ http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2012/02/15/greenest-condos-in-manhattan/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.buildgreenconf.org/?p=11 There are tons of people looking into electricity providers in New York and starting compost bins on their fire escapes but what about the big corporations doing something to make Manhattan greener? If you’ve been wondering about the best LEED certified buildings in the city here are a few of our favorites
The Lucida – Located on the Upper East Side this new condo development is quite a sight to behold. It’s totally LEED certified and the building has all kinds of great green features – if you’re looking to live environmentally friendly in a luxury space this is the building for you.
Millennium Towers – Located in the Battery Park area the towers are huge and they’re pretty, too. They’re a mixed use development and have a Gold LEED rating so you can rest assured if you’re patronizing them you’re doing your part.
Village Green – as the name attests, this building is all about the green touches. It’s got a Gold certification when it comes to environmentalism and it’s located in the trendiest part of the Village – a great place to put down roots.

]]> http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2012/02/15/greenest-condos-in-manhattan/feed/ 0 Skylights: The Window to the Sky and Lower Electric Bills http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/12/skylights-the-window-to-the-sky-and-lower-electric-bills/ http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/12/skylights-the-window-to-the-sky-and-lower-electric-bills/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.buildgreenconf.org/?p=10 Skylights are nice to have. They allow natural light in and studies indicate they improve mood and productivity. More importantly, skylights can lower your electric bill.

The key is the natural light. By placing a skylight above your hobby room or home office, you negate the need to have a light turned on during the day. Windows seldom provide the right kind of light in the right direction. Another good place to put a skylight is a kitchen. A skylight that can be opened is perfect to locate above an indoor herb garden. A variant known as a sun tunnel can allow natural light even into rooms that are not directly below the roof.

The best skylights have blinds or other light control. If the sun is beating down, then closing a blind over a skylight will prevent it from allowing extra heat into the room. This also allows skylights to be used in bedrooms or loft conversions. Venting skylights provide a chimney effect that pulls air out of the room. If properly placed, they can significantly reduce the need for air conditioning. They are also useful in hobby workshops to remove unpleasant odors, or to vent odors from bathrooms without the need for an active fan.

Skylights, in other words, can be used in a number of ways to lower energy costs and are a key element of LEED or green certification.

]]> http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/12/skylights-the-window-to-the-sky-and-lower-electric-bills/feed/ 0 The Quick and Easy Way to LEED Certification http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/09/the-quick-and-easy-way-to-leed-certification/ http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/09/the-quick-and-easy-way-to-leed-certification/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.buildgreenconf.org/?p=9 At one time the only way to get LEED certified was to attend a class on LEED certification, submit a time consuming project, register it with LEED and attend another class to take the final test. This whole process and depending on the size of your project could take from several months for a few years. But now you can go “green’ faster with the help of the internet. You can get your LEED certification quickly and easily online.

Make sure you do your homework and determine exactly what kind of LEED certification you want. There are different point levels of LEED certification. The greater the environmental impact, the higher the 100-point scale goes. Meet with everyone involved and build your project plans. You must then pay the registration fee with the Green Building Certification Institute and register your project online. Make sure your project is complete per their guidelines and then complete an application for certification. You will then upload all documentation required with the completed application to LEED Online. You will receive a certificate of certification if your LEED Certification is approved. If for some reason, you application was denied you have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

]]> http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/09/the-quick-and-easy-way-to-leed-certification/feed/ 0 LEED Certification: Seperating Myth from Fact http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/08/leed-certification-seperating-myth-from-fact/ http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/08/leed-certification-seperating-myth-from-fact/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.buildgreenconf.org/?p=8 LEED Certification: Separating Myth from Fact

LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”. It is an internationally recognized certification system for green buildings. That is, buildings which conform to environmentally sound standards. Though it is not required for engineers to be LEED certified, it is certainly a helpful thing to have on a resume when bidding on jobs. The LEED certification can yield benefits such as lower operating costs, tax rebates and zoning allowances. It demonstrates a verifiable commitment to environmental stewardship.

In order to take the LEED Green Associate exam, the person must either have worked in a LEED registered project, work in, or have worked in, a sustainable field or have attended an education program addressing green building. There are different exam prep courses out there that fulfill the latter requirement. The LEED Green Associate exam is the first step in gaining LEED certification.

Once LEED certified, an engineer may immediately reap the benefits by being able to get work on many state and local government jobs and incentives. Because of the third-party commission process, there will be little doubt that a builder has supported environmental stewardship and is able to build adequately to green standards.

]]> http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/08/leed-certification-seperating-myth-from-fact/feed/ 0 The Future of Green Buildings and You http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/07/the-future-of-green-buildings-and-you/ http://www.buildgreenconf.org/2011/09/07/the-future-of-green-buildings-and-you/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.buildgreenconf.org/?p=7 What exactly is a green building? A green building is one that efficiently uses energy, water and other resources. Green building also protects occupants health and improves employee productivity, while reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. With today’s economy and soaring energy prices its important that buildings use as less fuel as possible so why not go green? Green does everything including saving our environment, increasing employment and helping the animals on the planet. Have you ever considered making your home or business green? There’s a few things you have to do first. One is getting LEED certified. You must learn the credentialing process which has three different tiers for individual certification. Then you need to study the LEED exam. You can study online, take a class, whatever. You need to study. Take the Green Associate exam. The exam is also available 6 days a week at any Prometric testing center. Once you take the exam you will know whether you passed or failed before you leave the building. As, we move forward the demand for green buildings increase, and consumers are interested in green because they know the link between cost efficiency, lower utility cost and productivity. Future is green.

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