LEED retrofits outpace new LEED buildings in 2011

The Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) program recently announced that retrofits outstripped new lead buildings for the first time in 2011. The LEED program is designed to provide third party certification that a building is operating in an environmentally friendly manner. New buildings have always been at the forefront of the race for green building designs, but last year retrofit homes attaining LEED status outweighed new buildings by 15 million square feet.

This exciting trend is indicative of the enthusiasm LEED has garnered for its certifications and the growing awareness by home and business owners of the economic and environmental benefits of green building design. Ashley Katz, spokeswomen for the US Green Building Council which runs the LEED program had this to say: “Whereas before there was a lot of new construction, there are fewer funds for construction now. People are now looking at existing properties and footprints and saying, ‘What can we do to improve them?’”

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How global warming can be stopped in 4 (relatively) easy steps

We know we have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but by now, most of us feel like global warming’s a lost cause. We put global warming in the same category as death; we assume that it’s inevitable and we’d rather not think about it too much. The 90′s fervour for saving the planet seems to have dissipated, replaced with an accepting apathy that has us shrugging our shoulders when discussing unusual, inclement weather phenomena. But not everyone has given up. A recent Science article shows that there are simple global warming solutions that can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by 2050.

Even the smallest reduction in our current carbon footprints will restrict the effects of global warming on future generations. There are many ways to stop global warming that are practical and surprisingly doable.
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Green spaces in cities save money and keep us healthy

Couples walking in a leafy park, children climbing trees and students lazing on the lawn; you must be a particularly ornery variety of Grinch not to like sitting on a park bench and enjoying the sights and sounds. But parks and other green spaces take up valuable real estate in cities and there are those who argue that these spaces could be better utilized and that they cost the city millions to maintain. However, a new study by Natural England shows that green spaces actually save us money. Green initiatives such as parks, trees, open allotments and city gardens can accrue massive savings for the city, keep the populace healthy and happy, and drive up property prices.

In fact, residential properties that border green spaces are priced 19% higher than their counterparts only a couple of hundred meters away. On average, a 0.4% increase in property value is gained with every 1% increase in green spaces as people naturally opt for more verdant, open neighbourhoods. Commercial property owners were no different and were willing to pay on average 3% more for buildings close to green spaces.

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Why recycling makes sense

The world’s population exceeded 7 billion late last year and continues to grow at a rate of 212, 035 every day. The earth’s ability to sustain our growing population is reaching capacity. Resources are stretched to breaking point and the ability to process the waste that so much humanity produces places further strain on our environment. With increased consumption and pollution, recycling has become all the more important.

Recycling and disposing of waste responsibly helps to conserve our resources and the environment. Recycling materials from our homes and building sites reduces the consumption of natural resources such as trees, fossil fuels and metals. For example, making aluminum products from recycled materials saves 95% of the energy and pollution it would take to manufacture them from bauxite.
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Energy Star is a rating system established to help consumers to procure products that will make their homes and businesses more energy efficient. The rigorous standards of the Energy Star rating ensure that products reach predetermined levels of efficiency without sacrificing performance or features. The US Department of Energy and the EPA have set the Energy Star standards that, in 2010, saved Americans $18 billion on utilities and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 33 million cars off the road. In Canada, Energy Star products must meet the Canadian Federal Energy Efficiency Standards to qualify for the iconic blue label.

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