This concept has evolved over the years to encompass the basic construction tenant of sustainability.
RESOURCES: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Green Building Council, construction and operation of all buildings in the United States result in the following consumption of resources:
RAW MATERIALS: The impact of construction also consumes 3 billion tons of raw materials annually: (40 percent of raw stone, gravel, sand, and steel; 25 percent of virgin wood)
WASTE: The construction and operation of all buildings in the United States result in the following generation of waste materials:
Sustainable building is really about a systematic effort of planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance that benefits both the owner and the users over the lifetime of a building.
As a LEED certified firm Newport Construction is a valuable resource to help guide our clients through the Green Building process. Often times a client is interested in certain aspects of sustainable building in lieu of full certification. We will help you to prioritize your initiatives whether it be water conservation, minimizing waste, energy reduction or any number of other options to ensure we are achieving the best value.
Cost evaluation for sustainable construction goes beyond the immediate flat cost of the initial construction. An improvement is evaluated over its entire life cycle, including initial costs and subsequent operations, maintenance, and disposal costs.