: : Green Building

What is Green Building ?

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources -- energy, water, and materials -- while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

The related concepts of sustainable development and sustainability are integral to green building. Effective green building can lead to:

1) reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water,

2) improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and

3) reduced environmental impacts by, for example, lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect.

Practitioners of green building often seek to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding natural and built environment, although the appearance and style of sustainable buildings is not necessarily distinguishable from their less sustainable counterparts.

Did you know?

The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity.

In the United States, buildings account for:

• 36% of total energy use - 65% of electricity consumption
• 30% of greenhouse gas emissions
• 30% of raw materials use
• 30% of waste output/136 million tons annually
• 12% of potable water consumption

Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are available to designers, builders and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.

Environmental benefits:

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce solid waste
• Conserve natural resources

Economic benefits:

• Reduce operating costs
• Enhance asset value and profits
• Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Health and community benefits:

• Improve air, thermal and acoustic environments
• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure
• Contribute to overall quality of life

^ back to the top ^

New Orleans is named as a DOE Solar American City. La CleanTech spearheads the effort to build the New Orleans Solar City team with The NO office of Recovery Management, FutureProof, Green Coast Enterprises, Alliance for Affordable Energy, and Global Green..read more

La Clean Tech is offering Solar Energy Installation training classes around the state, and is working with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to begin a Solar Training program.

LA Senator Nick Gautreaux was presented with an award for his dedication to passing the Louisiana Tax Credit. La Clean Tech Network credits Mr. Gautreaux with being the "Father of the Solar Industry" in Louisiana...read more

Southern Building Institute is formed by La CleanTech along with Louisiana based building professionals and teams up with Texas A&M to apply for DOE Build America grant.

Global Green Holy Cross Project partners with La CleanTech to begin workforce development program for Solar Installers during installation of 5kW solar electric system in the ninth ward...read more .

Louisiana Economic Development office and La CleanTech are working towards getting Solar PV manufacturere to locate a 175MW a year plant to locate in New Orleans to produce state of the art solar systems.