Green Construction, or sustainable construction, is not a new concept. The modern movement came about in the 1970s as oil prices increased thus spurring the need and desire to conserve energy and find renewable energy resources drastically increased. Things began to formalize in the 1990s with the founding of the US Green Building Council in 1993. Today, many developers and end users alike look for their projects to be built energy efficient. However, this leaves others wondering what that actually means and how it’s measured.
The US Green Building Council has set the standard for what an energy efficient building should look like. If you are interested in LEED certification, a checklist for criteria can be found HERE. General information about LEED certification can be found HERE. Even if you don’t get your building LEED certified, there are certain areas for you to consider and speak with your architect and general contractor about during the design phase.
LOCATION
Your project site and general location is the first area to look at. Facilities in neighborhoods and developments designed for sustainability will help you that much more in being sustainable yourself.
How your site handles rainwater, restoration of plant life, heat reduction, and improving nighttime visibility are all fairly simple ways to start. You can go further in LEED certification by adding things like, bicycle facilities, creating open spaces that encourage interaction with the environment & natural resources, and electric vehicle charging stations among other things are not required, but go a long way in helping get that certification.
WATER EFFICIENCY
Indoor and outdoor water use reduction as well as “building-level water metering” are USGBC pre-requisites to your project being LEED certified. Other outdoor water reduction and water conservation aspects considered for certification include reduced or no required landscape irrigation. Other aspects, such as water efficient appliances and equipment, can be considered depending on the type of building you are constructing.
BUILDING MATERIALS & RESOURCES
Storage & collection of recyclables as well as construction waste and demolition waste management planning are both prerequisites in LEED certification. Most other aspects include recycled materials and renewable resources that the architect designs or includes in the specifications and construction methods by the general contractor and subcontractors in the construction process designed to reduce waste.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Things to consider for the indoor environment are low-emitting materials, interior lighting, natural light, acoustic performance, and thermal comfort. LEED goes the extra mile and requires minimum indoor air quality performance and tobacco smoke control standards in order to receive certification.
SUSTAINABILITY IS POSSIBLE… & PROFITABLE
These are all areas to consider in your quest to build a sustainable building. While there are more aspects that LEED certification requires, these are all areas that you can consider regardless of whether or not your project will be LEED certified. If sustainability is something you are thinking about but are not sure of, here are a few statistics for you; according to the US Green Building Council projects built with sustainability in mind use 25% less energy and 11% less water used on average per month. The average LEED certified building reduces the environmental impacts 32% compared to similar non-sustainable buildings. In the long term, these reduced operations costs can help off-set the cost of the project and make your business more profitable.
BOB MOORE CONSTRUCTION & GREEN CONSTRUCTION
Bob Moore Construction has had the privilege to work on multiple sustainable projects during our 74 years in the construction industry; Pioneer 360 Business Center, Jupiter Miller Business Center, and our own upcoming corporate headquarters.
PIONEER 360 & JUPITER MILLER BUSINESS CENTERS
Both Pioneer 360 and Jupiter Miller Business Centers were built for developer Brian Flaherty. Pioneer 360 Business Center was built on the site of the old Forum 303 Mall in Arlington, Texas and was the largest LEED project in Texas during the time of construction and was awarded the LEED Gold Certification. Jupiter Miller Business Park is a 3-building industrial center constructed on the old Raytheon campus in Garland, Texas. LEED Certification is currently in progress.
BOB MOORE CONSTRUCTION HEADQUARTERS
At the beginning of 2020 we broke ground on our new corporate headquarters in Grapevine, Texas. This new facility will nearly double the size of our current facilities, providing more room for our existing team as well as space for future growth. The new office facility is designed and will be constructed to be awarded a LEED certification upon completion. Aspects such as low-flow water fixtures, ventilation designed for energy efficient consumption, higher air quality, and vegetation restoration are just some of the aspects in which Bob Moore Construction is committing to a sustainable future.
Contact us today to start the discussion on your own green construction project!
