Environmental issues have been a major concern for society for several decades now. In fact, every decade seems to have its own specific environmental issue that attracts the attention of the public. The most recent, of course, is the worry over the phenomenon of global warming. It is interesting to note that this current concern involves many of the same factors as environmental crises requiring action in the past. Real estate agents are becoming increasingly aware about LEED systems and energy efficient homes, especially those agents in the area of Absolute condo.
The result of the higher amounts of attention paid to the environment during times of potential crises has generally been the growth of non-profit bodies who continue to keep a commitment to sound environmental living, even when society itself forgets the issue. One such organization is the United States Green Building Council. The council maintains a successful level of organization by using project
management software evaluation.
The USGBC was founded in 1993, as the crisis involving the ozone layer was becoming a household issue. This crisis expanded the thought process of all environmental movements, as people began to realize that quick fixes to big problems were simply not enough; in order to truly solve Earth dilemmas, sustained commitment was needed. In particular, scientists noted that humans needed to redefine how we lived if the planet was to survive as we know it in the long term.
On an everyday basis it is proven that we as a society can help to contribute to a healthier environment by using more environmentally friendly items such as hybrid cars and gardening hand tools. The elimination of green house gases even in small amounts will
add up over time and be a contributing factor.
The result was an organization that recognized corporate and private efforts to make buildings more environmentally efficient. The point project for the USGBC in recognizing building efforts which comply with green standards is LEED, or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system.
As you have probably inferred by the name, LEED seeks to recognize buildings that go above and beyond normal building codes by ranking them according to their green footprint. We will look at the specific rating system in a subsequent article; for now it is enough to state that the program pays attention to several critical issues when it comes to buildings and green living.
The trend towards going green need not only be done at a corporate or industry level. Individuals can make an impact too. A business owner looking to purchase Seattle business cards could contribute by buying cards made only with recycled
paper. A different individual can make a positive impact within their home.
A buyer who recently purchased a Halton Hills real estate property could choose to have the home built with recycled materials and install energy efficient appliances
Developed in 1998, the LEED system has grown exponentially, aided in popularity by the familiarity of the public with the current global warming crisis. Today, the program is used in thirty countries, and all 50 states. The total area covered by LEED accredited buildings worldwide is 99 square kilometres, giving a number to the sometimes obscure concept of eco-footprint.
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