Whether you are already in the building industry, or if you are considering a career in construction, there are certain key qualifications that will secure your future. Since the field of green building is so diverse, there are many branches in which you can specialize. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does cover the most commonly utilized qualifications which all prospective students should consider.
The London Olympic Games have been a fantastic success in far more ways than meets the eye. The London Olympic planning committee wanted to make the 2012 games the greenest to date. Read about how the focus on the environment has not only saved the city money, it has also left a legacy of greener energy production, cleaner water and greater biodiversity for Londoners to enjoy for years to come.
The return on investment of certified green buildings has always been exceptional. Not only do building owners save on their bills, but they also improve the indoor environment which has a positive effect on the building occupants. Now a new study titled “Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market” by the UCLA Institute for the Environment and Sustainability has shown that green certification can add an average of 9% to the resale value of buildings.
LEED-certified buildings have been around for more than a decade and studies into the true value of their certification are turning up some surprising results. Getting your building LEED certified adds value not only to real estate income, but also to the asset-value of your real estate. Savings are compounded by low utility bills, better employee retention rates and fewer sick days. Read why building greener simply makes sense on every level for your business.
If the unseasonably hot weather and terribly destructive storms weren’t enough to convince you that climate change is happening, then a recent study by Mercer should sway even the most stalwart naysayers. The study estimates that inclement weather will have a negative effect on buildings, transportation and the construction industries to the tune of $8 trillion by 2030. Now an organization called Architecture 2030 is issuing a challenge it hopes will encourage the building industry to help prevent the worst effects of global warming.
If you are living or working in an older building that’s as leaky as a sieve, you may be tempted to tear the whole thing down and start over again. If you are tempted; resist! A new study shows that retrofitting existing structures has less of an environmental impact than rebuilding.
High utility bills are one of the greatest motivators for home owners to opt for greener homes. With energy costs slated to rise dramatically in the future, there has never been a more opportune time to build a green home or retrofit your existing structure to meet exacting efficiency needs. Now there are several free programs online which can help you obtain the efficiency rate they you are aiming for.
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. 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.
A new study by Natural England shows that green spaces actually save us money and keep us healthy. 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.
The heat beneath your feet that’s clean and renewable. Geothermal is an efficient, renewable and green source of energy which can be utilized to heat and cool our homes and buildings too.
