Resources

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint (8/15/08)

Ever wonder how much CO 2 your lifestyle creates or how big your own "carbon footprint" actually is? According to green.yahoo.comhome energy use, cars, and airplanes are how most of us produce carbon. Carbon dioxide (CO 2) is the main greenhouse gas behind global warming. Using fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal sends lots of CO 2 into the atmosphere, and this traps heat. Our energy plants create CO 2 when they power our houses and offices, and our cars and planes spit out carbon in tailpipe and jet emissions. So if we cut back on energy use, driving, and flying, we can limit how CO 2 is changing our climate.

So, is your “carbon footprint” average? Or is it off the charts? To answer a few easy questions to learn your carbon shoe size, click here. For tips on how you can reduce the amount of carbon you emit, visit www.green.yahoo.com.

LEED Info and Project Profiles Available at USGBC.org (7/15/08)

Are your “Green” skills up to par? If you are interested in learning more about LEED certification on new or existing construction projects, the www.usgbc.org is the place to go. The U.S. Green Build Council website provides a plethora of information on green building, LEED certification and Continuing Education (CEU) courses. Not only does the website detail the LEED rating system and certification process, it also features a variety of LEED Project Profiles that provide photos and information on some stellar “Green” projects. To check out the latest Project Profiles added, click here.

Here’s a refresher on LEED provided by usgbc.org:

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Who Uses LEED?

Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the built environment to sustainability. State and local governments across the country are adopting LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings; there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and State; and LEED projects are in progress in 41 different countries, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India.

How is LEED Developed?

LEED Rating Systems are developed through an open, consensus-based process led by LEED committees. Each volunteer committee is composed of a diverse group of practitioners and experts representing a cross-section of the building and construction industry. The key elements of USGBC's consensus process include a balanced and transparent committee structure, technical advisory groups that ensure scientific consistency and rigor, opportunities for stakeholder comment and review, member ballot of new rating systems, and a fair and open appeals process.

For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.