Buildings have a tremendous effect on our environment. Buildings impact1:
- 72% electricity consumption
- 39% energy use
- 40% raw materials
- 30% waste output
- 14% potable water use
Did you know...
- The average US household utility costs are $298 per month. Philadelphia utilities are higher than average.2
- The Obama administration announced $3.2 billion for energy efficiency improvements.3
- Effective rents or rents adjusted for the occupancy levels in office buildings are about six percent higher in green buildings than in comparable office buildings nearby.4
GreenSteps educates clients about sustainable, eco-friendly design. Green design focuses on sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. We believe that buildings should minimize utility costs while maximizing user productivity and comfort. Buildings should be healthy places with satisfied owners!
GreenSteps has a number of services and programs:
- We present an introduction to green building concepts in a 1½ hr interactive session. We discuss the environmental impact of buildings, energy and water use, indoor air quality and other ways to save money and create healthier, more comfortable and more productive indoor (and outdoor) spaces.
- We give day-long and multi-day seminars where we examine sustainable design issues in-depth. In addition to presenting more extensive green information and case studies, we ask participants to bring information about their own house or a specific project, and we provide a hands-on project review.
- We perform a sustainable building review and analysis for building owners. We complete a visual tour of the building with the owner or facility manager and produce a report outlining our recommendations for improving the energy, water and air quality and overall building performance.
- We lead a ‘Green Assessment Team’, which includes an engineer and ‘green’ attorney with a background in sustainable project financing. We make architectural and technical recommendations to improve the eco-footprint of the project and identify green funding sources specific to the project.
- GreenSteps, with BluPath Design, our related architecture and interior design firm, can turn the recommendations and concepts from the GreenSteps analysis into reality. See www.blupath.us.
Source:
1. ‘Green by the Numbers’, September 2008, USGBC
2. February 2009 data, White Fence Index.
3. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
4. ‘Doing Well by Doing Good? Green Office Buildings’ study
