In the world of commercial construction, adapting to changing situations is standard for any company. The emergence of green construction methods that help save energy and offer more environmentally-sound approaches to everyday business are part of those changes.
Different Rules for Different Locales
Individual communities are offering different green construction incentives as well as green building incentives, yet getting a grasp on what’s available where has often been complicated. That can especially be a cause for concern among commercial construction companies that perform work in more than one state.
A Valuable Database
That task became easier on January 12, when the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) online Public Policy Library went live at http://public-policies.usgbc.org/. Now, companies will be able to have a better sense of the green construction incentives that are available to them.
These incentives may come at the local level, encompass an entire state or be fully inclusive at the federal level. Regardless of the scope, the opportunity to take advantage of green building incentives that come with a particular project are now more readily available to firms.
The USGBC site allows companies to check a particular area through the use of a particular keyword or determine if the policy is an incentive or an actual requirement. In the latter case, that makes awareness of such policies imperative to being able to do the job correctly.
LEED Certification Concerns
In some cases, the cost of the overall project or the construction of a new building can play a role in what incentives may be available. Certification of a green building generally boils down to meeting the particular LEED standards in place. Those standards will be based on what level the construction company reaches as it encompasses the issue of sustainability.
The four different available standards are calculated on a point system, with basic certification coming when a company has received between 40 to 49 points. A silver certification is reached when the amount reaches between 50 to 59 points, followed by a gold certification when the total is anywhere from 60 to 69 points. Finally, platinum certification is achieved when that total is from 80 to 110 points.
The value of a LEED-certified building, regardless of the level, is that less water and energy are used and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions is reduced. Of course, all of that ends up bolstering the bottom line of a company due to the reduced expenses involved, with the incentives part of a greater goal toward more efficiency.
A First Draft
The current database makes clear that it’s not an all-inclusive list that covers every municipality within the United States. Since it’s a work in progress, it’s requesting assistance for any missing information or for updates if a policy has already been changed or will be in the near future. The database also includes important elements as they relate to green construction incentives other than LEED-related items.
The Right Choice
Stovall Construction is a commercial construction company that’s been in business for more than four decades and has seen a vast number of changes over the years. Serving customers in the states of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, Stovall is prepared to help you meet your construction needs, no matter if they include green building incentives or not. Contact us today!