HOW TO GET STARTED BEING GREEN:

 

Take small steps to make a big difference!

Making simple changes, like replacing your light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescents (CFLs), conserving water, or incorporating green building design in the plans of your new home, save you money and help the environment. Small efforts can make a big difference.

Check out our conservation tips to see how you can get started.

Efficiency First, then Renewables!

Make your building energy-efficient first, then add renewable energy technologies, such as solar water heating or solar electricity systems. The less energy a building uses, the less equipment is required to power it.

Housing in Florida currently totals more than 7.3 million, so energy-efficient improvements to existing homes would have a tremendous impact on Florida's energy consumption.

What is a Green Building?

A green building:

• operates energy efficiently
• conserves water
• is comfortable, safe and healthy
• is durable and maintainable with
  minimal environmental impact
  
  
  

Why Build Green?

Florida’s per-household consumption of electricity is among the highest in the United States, largely because the State’s hot and humid weather drives up electricity demand for air-conditioning.

Since Florida builds an average of 160,000 new homes each year, and Census Bureau data reveals that Florida will rank third in terms of population in 2010, the construction of energy-efficient buildings alone would significantly reduce Florida’s energy consumption. So why else should you build green?

There are lots of reasons for building green, none necessarily better than others," says Alex Wilson, Executive Editor of Environmental Building News. His article, "Making the Case for Green Building," examines the 46 benefits, which include first-cost savings, reduced operation costs and other economic benefits, health and productivity benefits, community, environmental and social benefits.

How Much Does it Cost to Build Green?

Read the article, "The True Costs of Building Green," by Robin Suttell, contributing editor at Buildings magazine, to see how costs of building green are shown to be nominal over standard buildings built "to-code."

 

Maintenance & Operations

Streamlining cleaning and maintenance in commercial buildings can lead to improved occupant health, better building durability, and financial benefits, which include:

• 15-30% savings on cleaning costs
• 35% energy savings
• 20-60% water savings.

“Creating a Green and Profitable Work Environment” is an informative guide to “green” cleaning and maintenance practices which provide efficient, productive and healthy operation of commercial buildings in Florida.