Green building

William Cress Corporation subscribes to and supports development of LEEDS certified projects by owners who wish to demonstrate that their buildings are both environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work.

Once certified the project/building receives a LEED plaque, a nationally recognized symbol attesting to the fact that the project meets the highest Green Building performance measures and standards.

LEEDS- certified buildings:

• Lower operating costs and increase asset value.
• Reduce waste sent to landfills.
• Conserve energy and water.
• Healthier and safer for occupants.
• Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
• Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities.
• Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

There are various categories from which an owner and his design team can choose in order to have his buildings certified: Commercial buildings, as defined by standard building codes, are eligible for certification under the LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core & Shell rating systems.

Building types include - but are not limited to:

• offices
• Retail and service establishments
• Institutional buildings (e.g., libraries, schools, museums and religious institutions)
• Hotels and residential buildings of four or more habitable stories.

Why Green?
Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.

Impacts of the built environment:

Environmental Effects:

• Siting
• Design
• Construction
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Renovation
• Deconstruction

Consumption:

• Energy
• Water
• Materials
• Natural Resources

Environmental Effects:

• Waste
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Indoor pollution
• Heat islands
• Stormwater runoff
• Noise

Environmental Effects:

• Harm to Human Health
• Environment Degradation
• Loss of Resources

Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

For example, green buildings may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction (e.g., reused, recycled-content, or made from renewable resources); create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants (e.g., reduced product emissions); and/or feature landscaping that reduces water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering).

William Cress Corporation maintains a certificate of completion for LEEDS 101 Green Building Basics and has the knowledge and experience to work with owners' teams to develop a program that will qualify an owner's project for LEEDS certification if he so desires.