Building
Worldwide, buildings account for about 40 percent of energy use[1] and 21 percent of carbon emissions.[2] In 1999, there were over 4.7 million office buildings in the US, with an additional 170,000 added every year.[3] These buildings represent 36 percent of the nation's total energy use, emitting 30 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions.[4] In many places, especially cities, buildings are responsible for a higher percentage of environmental impacts (about 80 percent of New York City's carbon emissions).[5]
But energy consumption isn't the only concern for building owners. Commercial, residential, and educational buildings alike use a significant portion of fresh water—approximately 20 percent of the total water drawn from fresh sources every day. Reducing this amount by a mere 10 percent would save over 2 trillion gallons of fresh water annually.[6]
Given that buildings have such an enormous impact on carbon emissions and water use, constructing, retrofitting, and maintaining eco-friendly structures that conserve natural resources is vital.
Questions to get you started...
- Do you own or lease the office space?
- Do you pay for energy or does the landlord pay? Does your company pay for water?
- Are you responsible for any property or facility management? If so, what?
- Does your building have an energy management system to track energy use and reduce energy costs?
- Have you been tracking water use? If so, what’s your office’s annual use of water? (gal/year)
- Do you have a way to track waste?
External links
- Global Green USA - Green Building Resource Center
- Friends Committee on National Legislation - FCNL's Renovated Green Building on Capitol Hill: Check out the interactive green building diagram for some inspiration.
- US Environmental Protection Agency - Green Building
- Environmental Defense - Innovations Review 2008: Real Estate
- US Green Building Council - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
- US Department of Energy's Smart Communities Network - Green Buildings Introduction
Footnotes
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development - Energy Efficiency in Buildings
- CSRwire.com - Real Estate Industry Quietly Embracing Green Development, Progressive Investor Reports
- US Environmental Protection Agency - Buildings and the Environment: A Statistical Summary
- US Green Building Council - Why Build Green?
- NYC.gov - Mayor Bloomberg and University Officials Announce Commitment by Universities to Exceed PlaNYC Emissions Reductions Goal and Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions 30 percent by 2017
- ENERGY STAR - Buildings & Plants: The First Step to Improving Building Water Efficiency
Comments
2:14pm
I would like to reach out to those whom are interested in working in a
green environment for a reasonable price. Information is as follows:
Treehouse is a creative, sustainable, and energetic hive for design
professionals. Located at 33 Flatbush Ave, in downtown Brooklyn, the
space aims for dynamic interconnections between product, graphic,
industrial, and web designers. Treehouse provides coworking tables,
office space, a wood shop, a proto-lab (comming up in spring), and
sustainable community events with other organizations in the building.
Our goal is to provide affordable work space for design students,
freelance designers, and small design businesses. Become a member of
Tree house and explore your creativity in an engaging community.
Treehouse was founded in January, 2009 by the sustainable design firm
EcoSystems. EcoSystems is committed to design for a healthy planet.
They create products, systems, and services for a healthy planet.
EcoSystems employs innovative frameworks to engage and educate
communities in collaborative developments. It's fun.
$250+ for individual space
$300+ for woodshop access
For more information, contact us at info@treehouse-nyc.com
or call 718-383-6404.
You can also visit us at our website: http://treehouse-nyc.com.
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