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The greatest opportunities for incorporating energy efficiency
and sustainability into a building come in the design phase. During
construction, there are additional opportunities to reduce the project's
impact on the environment. Renovating an existing building rather
than building a new one is truly an environmental choice that does
not disturb the natural environment or require new infrastructure.
High-performance buildings use less energy, cost less to operate,
use fewer natural resources, and impact the environment less than
conventional buildings. However, the process of designing, constructing,
or renovating a high-performance building is quite different than
traditional design/build methods. This section explains the key
steps to successfully create a green building.
This Web site provides many guidelines, tools, success stories,
and links to guide you through the process of designing, constructing,
or renovating high-performance buildings.
- Plan and finance your
project with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind.
- Design, construct, and renovate your high-performance building
using the whole-building approach and design tools. Topics addressed
in this section include:
- Choose building components
that use the latest in energy-efficient technologies and practices
and learn about what's on the horizon.
- Operate and maintain
your building to get the most out of your energy dollars. Even
if you can't afford major renovations, there are no- or low-cost
ways to save.
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Whole Building Design & Construction Checklist
