Our Eco-Friendly Building Expertise Makes It Easy to Be Green!
Everyone knows tax day is April 15, but a lot of us forget that Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. First celebrated in 1970, the day was set aside to raise environmental awareness and promote appreciation for our planet. When it comes to ensuring eco-friendly building, the effort should not be viewed as taxing, but as a way to not only contribute to our planet’s viability but also to realize economic savings by incorporating energy-efficient standards.
There are several ways building owners can boast of having eco-friendly buildings. Here are just a few simple steps that can be taken toward that end:
- Installing skylights in a building enables a property owner to illuminate the interior, free of charge, thanks to Mother Nature! Given today’s heightened environmental consciousness, building owners have no shortage of available skylight installers. Not only do skylights save on energy bills, but also they offer an elegant element to any building.
- Solar panels are another tested element toward eco-friendly building. Initially, the cost of solar panels was cost-prohibitive. However, advances in the technology have helped prices go down. Moreover, many utilities offer rebates as powerful incentives toward the development of eco-friendly projects. Many property owners with solar panels end up selling surplus energy to the utility where their eco-friendly buildings are located. Short of selling the excess to a utility, it can also be stored for later use by transferring it to a battery. Granted, there is an initial investment requirement but the dividends will pay off big time in the long run.
- Low-wattage light bulbs are an often overlooked, yet simple, step that can be taken to achieve eco-friendliness. These bulbs are the “pigtail” variety and can be deceptive, given that they are brighter than conventional bulbs. However, don’t be deceived; they are exponentially more energy efficient that old-school light bulbs. As an added plus, these bulbs require no special adaptations and can plug into any socket.
- The bathroom is one of the last places some might expect to target in trying to achieve eco-friendly building, but the toilet consumes quite a bit of water. Due to this, it’s advisable to secure a low-flow toilet device to cut on water bills. These easy-to-install devices—available at any building supplies store—ensure that a toilet uses considerably less water without compromising water flow. This simple step can help you save not only water but also money on your water bill each month.
- Motion sensors designed to turn off a light bulb automatically are another element found in many eco-friendly buildings. The timers on these devices will automatically shut off light bulbs either indoors or outdoors if you happen to forget to shut them off yourself. Building owners sometimes don’t count the cost of wasted electricity but believe us—it can be quite considerable.
As part of their professional acumen, the staff of Burnham Nationwide is well-versed on the range of energy-efficient methods and practices. We see the heightened interest in eco-friendly building as advantageous to our clients because of the real savings that can be achieved.
Having a so-called “green building” is an ever-increasing goal of many—a source of pride in their communities and a way of achieving financial and energy savings. Achieving green status requires cooperation from all construction players—the architect, the design team, engineers, and the client. You can count on having a reliable partner in Burnham Nationwide for development of your own green building.
For additional insight and guidance on achieving eco-friendly buildings, please contact us through our website at burnhamnationwide.com or by calling us toll-free at (800) 407-7990.
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Tags: eco-friendly building, green building consultants, Green Buildings