As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Solar Smart Living is committed to providing eco-efficient, renewable and sustainable energy solutions in support of Green Building certification.

Savings
Green Building isn’t just about helping the environment.  It makes great economic sense.  You can expect substantial utility cost reductions:  as much as 50% reduction in energy costs, 40% reduction in water use, 70% reduction in solid waste in addition to 39% reduction in CO2 emissions*.

Productivity & Health
Worker productivity is dramatically increased in a Green Building.  Improvements in indoor air quality and day lighting improve worker health and make your building a place people want to live and work in*:

• In the U.S. people are indoors an average of 90% of the time
• Green Buildings provide a healthier indoor environment
• Worker & student productivity can increase as much as 16% in a Green Building.
  

Value
The value of Green Buildings is substantially higher than those using traditional construction methods*.  According to the National Appraisal Institute, the value of a building increases by $20 for every $1 in energy savings.  On average:

• 9% Operating cost reduction
• 7.5% Building value increase
• 6.6% Return on investment
• 3.5% Increase in occupancy
• 3% Increase in rent ratio
  

The value of Green Building is becoming clear to both builders and owners.  Buildings constructed with traditional methods may soon be obsolete.  Expected growth in U.S. Green Building in 2010*:

• $60 billion in new construction
• $240 billion in renovation
• $20 billion commercial and institutional
• $40 billion in residential
  
  

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
Solar Smart Living has LEED Accredited Professionals on staff ready to provide certification support for any LEED rating system ranging from New Construction to Existing Buildings to Homes.  We provide Green Building Program Design and Project Management support in the following areas:

• Strategic Planning: identifying goals
• Brainstorming meeting
• LEED Information & Task management
• LEED Credit Documentation, Submittal & Review
• Design Drawings and Specifications Review
• Energy Modeling
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Green Building Guidelines

Our solar energy products contribute towards satisfying credits in the Energy and Atmosphere, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design sections under LEED.  Solar Smart Living has clients registered with the U.S. Green Building Council in pursuit of LEED certification.

• Sustainable Sites:  open space, storm water mgmt., alternative transportation
• Water Conservation: low-flow water fixtures, drought tolerant/native/ adapted landscaping, drip irrigation
• Energy Efficiency:  high performance glazing, HVAC optimization, onsite renewable energy generation
• Materials: recycling, use of regional and renewable materials
• Indoor Environmental Quality: day-lighting, natural ventilation, thermal comfort, indoor pollution control

*Statistics from USGBC, EPA & McGraw-Hill Construction